Introduction

Not only can sheep eat pumpkins but they are an excellent feed with many nutritional properties that benefit sheep health.

• Pumpkins, particularly the seeds and flesh, provide high protein and energy levels, making them excellent feed for sheep at all life stages.
• The crude protein of pumpkin fruit is 11 – 17% on a dry matter basis and the seeds are upwards of 30% crude protein.
• On a dry matter basis, the TDN (energy) of pumpkin pulp is 60-70%.
• Sheep find all parts of the pumpkin plant, seeds, fruit and leaves highly palatable. 
• Pumpkins can be a supplementary feed for sheep when fresh grass may be limited during the fall grazing season.
• Seeds contain compounds that have shown potential in reducing worm load in sheep and goats.
• Pumpkins can be a large percentage of a sheep’s diet with few to no serious health issues.

Our Pumpkin Smashing Story

Our pumpkin feeding story began nearly 30 years ago when our county extension agent called us. She wanted to know if we were interested in a load of pumpkins from a farmer with no market for his crop. They were available to anyone who wanted them for animal feed. We loaded two kids under the age of five and drove 100 miles round trip, returning with a heaping pick-up load of pumpkins for our then small flock of sheep and goats. What we learned answered the question, “Can sheep eat pumpkins?” Not only can they eat them, they love to eat them. Every bite of them.

After a short pumpkin-smashing spree hucking pumpkins from the pick-up bed, we left the animals to explore this new feed. Sheep and goats were sniffing, nibbling and licking and not much more. We wondered if we had wasted our time and fuel on this foray. 

We went inside for the evening. By morning, we were amazed at what we saw. We saw…..nothing. Not a seed, not a shred of pumpkin skin or flesh anywhere. The only evidence of the pumpkin event was a few scattered dry stems. This experiment made us consider integrating leftover pumpkins into our sheep’s feed program in the future.

We’re about to embark on a journey exploring the health benefits of turning cast-off pumpkins into valuable feed for your sheep. You’ll discover how pumpkins can extend your grazing season as a supplemental feed source, add variety to your flock’s diet and improve sheep nutrition.

Sheep’s Basic Nutritional Needs

Sheep require a balanced diet that includes macronutrients, such as crude protein, energy and fiber and micronutrients, such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper (in moderation) and selenium. These nutrients are necessary for proper growth, reproduction, and overall health. When choosing what feeds to add to your flock’s diet, you must understand how different physiological (lifecycle) stages directly affect your flock’s nutritional requirements. A lactating ewe or growing lamb requires a higher plane of nutrition than a mature ram or a dry ewe.

The sheep’s digestive system breaks down and extracts nutrients from fibrous plant material. Because sheep are ruminant animals, they can break down plant fibers that monogastric, or single stomach, animals such as pigs, chickens and even humans are unable to digest as effectively. A ewe’s diet should consist of a variety of high-quality forages, such as grasses, legumes, and hay. In addition to forages, sheep can eat a wide range of fruits and vegetables that add essential nutrients to their diet that may be lacking with forages alone.

Sheep require access to clean, fresh water at all times. Water is the most critical nutrient for the health of your flock. Inadequate or fouled water will limit  water intake, reducing growth and compromising their immune system.

Benefits of Feeding Pumpkins to Sheep

Turning sheep out on local pumpkin fields is a great way to extend the grazing season and reduce the feed bill for livestock owners. Whole pumpkins, pumpkin leaves and vines are highly palatable to sheep and are a good source of vitamins and minerals.

Pumpkins are a highly nutritious alternative feed for sheep. They are surprisingly rich in protein. Adequate protein intake is crucial for the growth and tissue repair of lambs. It is an essential component that supports the development of healthy young sheep. Fresh pumpkins have total digestible nutrient levels (TDN) that are higher than hay and provide much needed energy for fattening young lambs, boosting the reproduction system in ewes and increasing milk supply.

Best Time of Year to Feed Sheep Pumpkins

Pumpkin season typically starts in September and ends in November, making this period ideal for feeding leftover pumpkins to your flock.

Local farms are harvesting their crop for Halloween pumpkins and Thanksgiving and Christmas baking. Larger pumpkin varieties are usually carving pumpkins; small pumpkins are pie or sugar pumpkins. Because of the high energy levels in the seeds and flesh, pumpkins are an excellent feed for increasing dietary energy for ewes just before breeding. This pre-breeding increase in energy is called flushing. A high-energy diet at breeding time increases ovulation and conception rates, producing a higher lambing percentage in the spring. Fed during the right season (Hello, Fall), pumpkin can provide your flock with extra nutrition at a time when fresh grass may be waning.

Are Pumpkins Good for Sheep

Globally, pumpkins are commonly used as sheep, goat and cattle feed. However, research on the subject is limited. The fruit’s benefits are linked to its seeds’ protein and fat content and its carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6826842/)

Livestock feeds fall into broad categories: energy feeds, protein feeds, dry forages, silages/haylages, and pasture/range plants. Of these categories, whole pumpkins, including the seeds, fall into the energy feeds category. Grains such as wheat, corn and barley also fall into the energy feed category.

We usually refer to Dry Matter (DM) content when discussing animal feed. Dry matter remains after all the water is removed from a feed. Hay has a high dry matter level, often falling around 90%. Fruits and vegetables have a low dry matter content, often as low as 10%. Pumpkin has a low dry matter content or, conversely, a high moisture content. We will talk about that more in a minute.

Table 1: Comparison of Nutrients for Pumpkin

The Protein Powerhouse

The protein content of pumpkin is surprisingly high. The crude protein of pumpkin fruit is 11 – 17% (Kerr) (Jenkins, 2015) on a dry matter basis and the seeds are upwards of 30% crude protein (National Research Council, 2007). The crude protein of pumpkin seeds is nearly twice that of alfalfa hay and 75% of the protein content of soybeans. Both alfalfa and soybeans are considered the gold standard for protein in animal feed.

Energy Booster

Energy plays a significant role in maintaining the health and well-being of sheep. Without adequate dietary energy, sheep will not maintain their body condition, which can lead to decreased growth, fertility, and disease. One measure of energy in feeds is total digestible nutrients (TDN). Pumpkins have respectably high TDN. On a dry matter basis, the TDN of pumpkin pulp is 60-70% (Jenkins, 2015), which clocks in higher than many forages such as grass and alfalfa. The TDN of pumpkin seeds by themselves is as high as 97% on a dry matter basis (Ensminger & Olentine, Jr., 1978), a figure that is comparable to corn or wheat.

High Fiber

All parts of the pumpkin are high in fiber. Because sheep are ruminant animals, they require a high-fiber diet. The first chamber of their four-chambered stomach is called the rumen. Fiber is essential for rumen health by providing “scratch factor” for the inside of the stomach. Long plant fibers prevent the loss of rumen papillae. These structures are vital for nutrient absorption.

Vitamins

Pumpkin pulp contains beta carotene, an antioxidant converted into Vitamin A within the sheep’s small intestine. Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin stored in the liver, with small amounts in other tissues and organs. Vitamin A is also one nutrient lost relatively quickly in stored hay. Pumpkins and other beta carotene loaded vegetables, when fed with hay, can provide an increased level of much needed vitamin A.

Minerals

Pumpkin can supply important minerals to your ewe’s diet. The calcium, phosphorus and magnesium levels in whole pumpkin on a dry matter basis are .24%.  This meets the daily calcium and phosphorus requirements for most classes of sheep.  As a bonus, pumpkins supply a safe and needed dose of copper in a sheep diet. This test shows that pumpkins have copper levels at 5.73 ppm on a DM basis. This copper level is within the recommended daily intake range of 5-12 ppm.

Feeding Pumpkins to Sheep:  Some Guidelines

Pumpkins are perishable, but in the field can last for weeks. Depending on the year, an abundance of unharvested pumpkins may remain in the field post-harvest. Pumpkins damaged in transport may be blemished and less marketable. However, these pumpkins are still edible and make fine feed for sheep.

We have fed pumpkins to our flock in two ways: taking the pumpkins to the sheep and taking the sheep to the pumpkins.

You can gather leftover pumpkins from local farmers, grocery stores, neighbors and pumpkins from your garden and transport them to your flock. Creative sheep growers use online marketplaces to alert their community that they accept pumpkin donations for animal feed. Sheep readily eat pumpkins directly from the ground. If the pumpkins are firm, consider breaking them into pieces so sheep can bite into them. If you are feeding “used pumpkins,” remove any candle wax from the interior of the cavity.

The other way is to transport the sheep to a field of pumpkins. Depending on the size of the pumpkin variety, yields can range from five to 30 tons per acre.  A 25 acre field may have as many as 750,000 pounds of pumpkins (375 tons of feed) for your sheep! But if the field has been harvested, this tonnage will be far less. Our sheep have been the benefactors of harvest overruns or harvest failures where the tonnage was very high, making this a great addition to our grazing program.

Pumpkin Feeding Preparation

Grazing pumpkins requires some special considerations. If the fruit has not been harvested and is still firm, consider lightly disking or using a vertical tillage tool to break the crop into pieces. Another option is to allow the cooler weather to do its work by freezing the fruit. Because pumpkins have a high water content, freezing and thawing creates soft pumpkins that sheep can easily bite into. Where the pumpkins have been harvested, the remaining smaller pieces of pumpkin, vines and seeds left behind in the harvest process are readily available for sheep to consume.

 Pumpkin Seeds as a Dewormer

Because small ruminants are more susceptible to internal parasites than cattle, sheep owners often find themselves treating for parasite loads during the grazing season.  Internal parasite resistance has increased with the use of conventional deworming compounds making them less effective than they once were. Producers must seek new ways to prevent and manage internal parasites in their flocks.

The family of plants called Cucurbita sp. includes both pumpkins and squash. These plants contain compounds such tannins, alkaloids (berberine), cucurbitine and phenols that have properties shown to reduce the worm loads goats and sheep if administered appropriately. Cucurbitacin, a compound found in pumpkins, can paralyze worms in the digestive tract. Once paralyzed, these parasites can be expelled from the body.

More research is needed to determine the effectiveness of pumpkin seeds as a deworming agent, but this study published in the National Library of Medicine and this study published by Delaware State University show that pumpkin seeds have a positive deworming effect against certain worms in sheep and goats. These research studies found that pumpkin seed extract showed promise in controlling gastrointestinal parasites in goats and sheep.

Continually monitor your flock closely and treat for internal parasites as needed. If you have any questions about sheep parasites, don’t hesitate to seek help from a local vet or agricultural extension service.

  Potential Risks Associated with Feeding Sheep Pumpkins

Personal experience shows few to no serious health issues when grazing or hand-feeding pumpkins to sheep. But, as with all feeds, there are some caveats that you, as a sheep producer, should be aware of.

• Mild Digestive Issues

If sheep are grazing pumpkin aftermath, some may develop mild acidosis. The most obvious symptom of this is loose stools (think cowpats) rather than soft or pelleted feces. Sheep find the pulp and seeds of pumpkins very palatable and will bite into the fruit cavity, eat the seeds and move to the next fruit. This selective eating means they can consume a rich diet of primarily seeds rather than a more balanced diet of fruit, vines and seeds.

Mild acidosis is generally self-limiting once the rumen bacteria adapt to a higher-energy diet. In mild cases, sheep may have messy backsides from runny feces but are otherwise bright and eating normally. Watch for sheep that act “off.” They may have messy tails and are not ruminating. They can look dull and grind their teeth. Though we have not experienced anything other than transient runny stools, these cases may need treatment with oral antibiotics, activated charcoal and baking soda.  Consult your veterinarian if you have questions about treatment.

• Low Dry Matter/ High Moisture

The high moisture content of pumpkins can contribute to scouring in sheep eating a free choice diet of pumpkins. To prevent this, feed sheep dry feed (hay) with wetter feeds like pumpkin. If sheep are grazing pumpkin aftermath and have dry vines available as part of their diet, the fibrous vines can help offset the high moisture of the fruit.  Consider adding a grass pasture or harvested corn field to your grazing area for additional dry matter. Adding dry feeds ensures that your ewes get the needed dry matter and helps avoid digestive issues. If sheep are hand-fed pumpkins, you can control their intake more readily. In both cases, hand feeding and grazing pumpkins, free choice grass hay is an excellent supplement to add to your feed program as a dry matter additive.

• Calcium/Phosphorus Ratio

Maintaining the proper calcium to phosphorus levels is an integral part of a healthy diet for your sheep. The recommended ratio of calcium to phosphorus from the SID Sheep Production Handbook (2015) is 2:1, with higher levels tolerable up to 7:1 if the ration contains adequate phosphorus . Since pumpkins have a Ca: P ratio of 1:1, you will need to ensure they are getting sufficient calcium from other feeds. Adding leguminous hay such as alfalfa or clover to their ration will increase the calcium levels lacking in whole pumpkins alone. In addition to increasing calcium levels, hay increases the dry matter needed when sheep are on a high-moisture diet such as pumpkins and squash, root vegetables and early spring grass.

• Decreased Performance

Though ewes perform well on pumpkin fields that include vines, fruit and seeds, weaned lambs may only be able to consume enough of this high moisture feed with additional dry matter, such as hay, in their diet.

Weaned lambs weighing 88 pounds can consume 4% of their total body weight in dry matter each day. This percentage equates to 3.5 lbs. of dry matter needed daily. To meet its daily dry matter intake, an 88 lb. lamb must consume 28 lbs. of pumpkin. Lambs this size cannot consume enough high moisture pumpkin fruit to meet this dietary requirement.

Young animals can perform very well on pumpkin if their nutrition needs are met with additional hay or pumpkin vines along with their pumpkin diet. Without added hay, their growth performance on pumpkins alone would be compromised.

• Molds

If sheep are grazing in a pumpkin field, some fruit may become quite soft and grow spots of surface mold on the exterior of the skin. Sheep tend to eat the contents of the pumpkin first and leave the outer skin to last, thus avoiding mold spots for a time.

In five years of experience, we have not found any health issues related to our ewes eating small amounts of spoilage on the exterior of squash and pumpkins when they graze in fields of these plants. While they don’t mind eating softened pumpkins, it’s important to note that consuming them may have health risks. Some molds can act as an abortifacient and may affect pregnant ewes.

• Potential For Choking

Sheep are known for thoroughly chewing their feed, so they present a lower risk of choking than cattle. Leaving pumpkins in larger broken pieces that require sheep to bite off the fruit reduces the choking hazard by allowing the sheep to “right size” each bite. Cutting small pieces of pumpkin could increase the incidence of choke since these pieces could be too large to swallow safely but small enough that a ewe can get the entire bit in her mouth without chewing. Allowing pumpkins to soften before feeding also reduces the risk of choke.

Choke is relatively rare with sheep, but it is still critical to monitor your flock when they are consuming feed that is not easily chewed.

FAQs about Can Sheep Eat Pumpkins?

Can sheep eat pumpkins?

Yes, sheep can eat pumpkins. Pumpkins are not only safe but nutritious for sheep. They are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, essential for your flock’s overall health and well-being.

Are pumpkin seeds safe for sheep to eat?

Sheep can eat pumpkin seeds safely. They are a good source of protein and fiber.  You should feed pumpkin seeds in moderation as they are high in energy, which can cause mild digestive upset.

Can sheep eat pumpkins leaves?

Sheep can and will eat pumpkin leaves, particularly if they are grazing a pumpkin field and have access to both vines and pumpkin fruit. Feeding sheep pumpkin leaves and vines can add needed dry matter to their diet.  Our forage testing shows that squash vines have up to 11% crude protein.

Will sheep eat pumpkin plants?

Pumpkin plants are relatively palatable; sheep readily eat them when grazing pumpkin fields.

Conclusion

• Can sheep eat pumpkins? Absolutely!
• Pumpkins are rich in beta carotene, vitamin C, and crude protein.
• Fall is the ideal season to introduce pumpkins into their diet.
• If necessary, you can mix the pumpkins with other feeds.
• Adding pumpkin seeds to your sheep’s diet can act as a natural dewormer.
• Remember these guidelines to enhance your flock’s diet.

Sources

The ONE email you will want to open.