What is the Northern Sheep Pasture Mix?
Tailored for Northern US climates, Northern Sheep Forage Mix is a cool-season pasture blend of perennial ryegrass, orchardgrass, chicory, Kentucky bluegrass, birdsfoot trefoil, and white clover. It delivers high-protein, digestible forage that supports sheep, goats, and cattle. Deep-rooted chicory and sod-forming bluegrass boost drought resilience and erosion control, while legumes fix nitrogen for soil health. Ideal for spring and fall grazing, this mix thrives in USDA Zones 3–6
Specifications
Sun Requirement
Full sun; tolerates partial shade (orchardgrass, clovers)
Soil Preference
Well-drained soils (loams, sandy loams)
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0–7.0 ideal)
Time to Maturity
7–21 days
Height when mature
6 to 24 inches
Seeding Rate
~20 lbs/acre
Planting Depth
¼–½ inch
Sheep Pasture & Forage Mix | Cold Season
SKU: PB-SHEP-N
- Sheep
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Description
What seeds are in the mix?
Balanced Cool-Season Forage – Grasses & Legumes
Perennial ryegrass and orchardgrass kick off vigorous spring growth and are highly digestible, making them top forage for sheep and cattle. These bunchgrasses combine well with the short, nitrogen-fixing clovers and trefoil to sustain continuous growth. The mix yields nutrient-dense pasture throughout spring and fall, and, thanks to deep taproot chicory, it even extends productive grazing into summer’s dry spell
Drought & Heat Adaptation
Chicory’s taproot goes deep to tap subsurface moisture, giving this mix exceptional drought tolerance. Orchardgrass and bluegrass also tolerate moderate dry periods (orchardgrass is “fairly drought resistant”). During hot midsummer, growth naturally slows; rotational stocking allows deep-rooted chicory and clovers to recover, ensuring forage remains available even in arid spells.
Nitrogen-Fixing Legumes
Birdsfoot trefoil and white clover enrich the soil by fixing atmospheric nitrogen, reducing fertilizer needs. They provide high-protein forage without bloat risk. Trefoil, in particular, maintains leaf biomass after frost (ideal for fall grazing) and is well-suited to poorer soils where alfalfa falters. White clover spreads via stolons to fill gaps, supporting the grasses and improving stand persistence.
Dense Turf & Erosion Control
Kentucky bluegrass rhizomes quickly fill in spaces, forming a tough sod that resists soil erosion. Combined with orchardgrass’s fibrous root network, the mix binds hilltops and waterways. This durable groundcover performs especially well under continuous grazing pressure: bluegrass tolerates close grazing and orchardgrass thrives in intensive rotational grazing, making it perfect for permanent sheep pastures.
Wildlife & Biodiversity Value
Flowering chicory and clover attract pollinators, while the seedheads of grasses and legumes provide cover and food for wildlife. Birdsfoot trefoil is “choice food for Canada geese, deer, and elk”, and orchardgrass is favored by deer and upland game species. The mix’s structural diversity (tall grasses, low clover, flowering forbs) also benefits ground-nesting birds.
Description
What seeds are in the mix?
Detail Product
Sun/Shade
Full sun
Height
6 to 24 inches
Seeding Rate
~20 lbs/acre
Uses
Permanent pasture, hay, silage, livestock grazing, erosion control, pollinator and wildlife habitat.
Color
Varies by species (ryegrass: dark brown; clover: off-white; chicory: black; orchardgrass: light brown).
Water
Varies by species (ryegrass: dark brown; clover: off-white; chicory: black; orchardgrass: light brown).
Native
Introduced cool-season species
Life Form
Cool-season perennials
Product Uses
Livestock Safe
This mix was custom-blended for grazing sheep, goats, and cattle. The high-protein grasses and legumes deliver excellent daily gains, while trefoil ensures bloat-free browsing. Use it for rotational grazing or continuous stocking; Kentucky bluegrass tolerates close grazing and orchardgrass thrives under well-managed rotations.
Perfectly Designed Mix
If cut for hay or silage, harvest grasses just as seedheads emerge and legumes at 10% bloom. The early maturity of orchardgrass and ryegrass yields multiple cuttings in spring/early summer. Save a final cut of chicory and clover into late summer for exceptional forage quality. Proper cutting height (≥4 inches) ensures stand persistence.
Stabilizing Slopes and Waterways
Ideal for stabilizing slopes and waterways, the mix quickly establishes groundcover. Dense Kentucky bluegrass sod and orchardgrass root mats lock soils in place. Plant on problem areas or new fence lines; this mix prevents washouts while providing forage.
Attract Wildlife
Beyond livestock, the blend attracts wildlife. Birdsfoot trefoil is “choice food” for upland game, deer, and geese. Chicory flowers draw bees, and the dense grass stand offers nesting cover. Sow this mix in field borders or conservation plantings for a dual-purpose wildlife and grazing habitat.
Questions & Answers
What is Northern Sheep Forage Mix and why use it?
It’s a premium cool-season pasture blend designed for the upper US climate. By combining six plant types (ryegrass, orchardgrass, bluegrass, chicory, clover, trefoil), it delivers balanced nutrition, drought resilience, and soil health. Sheep and other livestock get high-protein, digestible forage, while the mix’s deep roots and vigorous turf protect soils
How does this mix support forage quality?
The grasses provide rich, fibrous forage, and the legumes add protein and minerals. Perennial ryegrass and orchardgrass are among the most digestible cool-season grasses, and clover/trefoil ensure a steady supply of nitrogen, boosting grass growth. Birdsfoot trefoil’s protein and “bypass” nutrients exceed alfalfa’s in similar stands, and unlike alfalfa, it doesn’t cause bloat\.
What are the best planting conditions and methods?
Plant in early spring (as soon as soil can be worked) or late summer/early fall. Prepare a firm, weed-free seedbed (drill or broadcast). Keep seed depth shallow (~¼–½″). Fall plantings (about 45 days before frost) allow orchardgrass and bluegrass seedlings to establish. For spring seedings, wait for cool soil (50–75°F) – ryegrass and clover germinate quickly in March–May. Inoculate clover and trefoil seed with rhizobia at planting.
How much water does this forage need?
Moisture needs are moderate. This is a cool-season mix, so it thrives with regular spring/fall rains. Perennial ryegrass uses a lot of water and will suffer in prolonged drought, but chicory’s deep taproot compensates by accessing subsoil moisture. Orchardgrass and bluegrass handle occasional wet or compacted soils. In very dry summers, rest periods between grazing let the deep-rooted plants maintain quality.
How should I graze or harvest this mix?
Use rotational grazing. Begin grazing when plants reach ~6 inches, then remove livestock at ~4 inches to allow regrowth. For hay, cut grasses at early heading and legumes at 10% bloom. After grazing or cutting, allow ~8–10 inches regrowth before the next harvest – this rest builds strong roots. Avoid overgrazing. Kentucky bluegrass tolerates close grazing better than most grasses, but orchardgrass benefits from deferred grazing, especially in fall.
Can this mix be used as lawn or ornamental turf?
It’s formulated for forage, not fine turf. Some components (bluegrass, clovers) resemble lawn grass, but orchardgrass and chicory are coarse and tall. It can green-up rough areas or service lawns, but you’ll need to mow for forage, and it won’t have the uniform look of a lawn grass mix. If you want a pasture cover in a yard-like setting, it’s safe; but it’s not a replacement for turfgrass seed.
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Tailored for Northern US climates, Northern Sheep Forage Mix is a cool-season pasture blend of perennial ryegrass, orchardgrass, chicory, Kentucky bluegrass, birdsfoot trefoil, and white clover. It delivers high-protein, digestible forage that supports sheep, goats, and cattle. Deep-rooted chicory and sod-forming bluegrass boost drought resilience and erosion control, while legumes fix nitrogen for soil health. Ideal for spring and fall grazing, this mix thrives in USDA Zones 3–6
| Weight | 10 lbs |
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