Can Sheep Eat Apples?

Can sheep eat apples? I’m glad you asked. Sheep can enjoy eating various food such as carrots, but can sheep eat apples? Continue reading to find out what’s good and bad about this delicious fruit.

Can Sheep Eat Apples?

The short answer is yes. Sheep can eat apples, but before you start serving apples to sheep, there are some caveats you should consider first. Keep reading to find out what’s good and bad about feeding apples to your sheep.

Are Apples Good for Sheep?

The answer is yes. Apples are good and safe for sheep to eat in moderate amounts. However, you need to learn how to prepare them to avoid some risks.

Apples are a good source of numerous nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, fiber and carbs that can the health of your sheep. in addition to a high water content (around 86%) that makes it a perfect snack for summer months as it can aid your sheep to stay well-hydrated.

Down below, we’ve put together some of the health benefits of feeding apples to your sheep.

Vitamins

Sheep use vitamins to maintain their body functions. Below are some vitamins that ruminants can get from apples.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) helps in protein metabolism in the sheep’s body, impacting their overall health from growing and repairing muscles to a healthy skin.
Vitamin C helps produce antibodies which are vital for your sheep’s immune system, and it’s also an anti-inflammatory
Vitamin K in apples helps your sheep’ blood’s ability to clot normally.

Minerals

Ruminants need various minerals in their food. Below are several minerals that sheep can get from apples.

Potassium in apples keep blood pressure in control and protect your sheep from strokes and other problems like osteoporosis and kidney stones.
Magnesium content of apples aids the sheep’s body to have healthy blood sugar levels in addition to a healthy heart.
Iron content of apples is important for sheep’s body to create healthy red blood cells.

Fiber

Apples contain 2.4% fiber which keep your sheep’ digestion system in good condition.

Are Apples Bad for Sheep?

No, apples are neither bad nor poisonous to sheep. However, eating large amounts can cause some serious side effects like diarrhea and digestion issues because of the high water levels.

Another thing worth mentioning is that you shouldn’t feed apple seeds to your animal as they can be toxic and should be avoided.

Do Sheep Like Apples?

Yes, sheep like apples; they find them incredibly tasty and would happily eat them whenever they can.

Want to make sure? Enjoy watching this video

How Much Apples Can Sheep Eat?

There is no exact rule about how much apples sheep can eat. However, apples or any snack should never make more than 5-10% of sheep’ total daily intake. apples should be considered as a treat, not as replacement for their main diet. If you feed sheep apples, it should be as a part of a well-balanced diet.

How to Feed Apples to Sheep?

Here is how you can offer apples to sheep.

Seek organic apples whenever possible.
Wash the apples to remove any pesticides from the peel.
Remove the peel altogether if you want to remove the risk of pesticide poisoning.
cut the apples up into small slices that your sheep can easily eat.
Mix the apples with other foods that your sheep usually enjoy.
Start with a small amount of apples the first time you serve them to your sheep to see if they show any negative signs. This should be done with any new treat.