Buying Sheep: What to Check Before You Start

Sheep are the one species on this site with no pet-keeping advice from the usual welfare charities — so this guide draws instead on two government and industry advisory sources that, between them, cover buying, quarantine and breed selection in real detail.

Two ways to buy: mart or private breeder

Farm Advisory Service (part of Scotland's Rural Development Programme) is direct: the two main methods of purchasing livestock are through an auction market or privately from an established breeder. Both are genuinely normal routes — a mart gives more choice in one visit, buying privately lets you see the flock and ask about health history directly, and either way the same quarantine rules apply once the sheep get home. Farm Advisory Service, “So Ewe Want to Keep Sheep?”.

Quarantine: at least 4 weeks, every time

Whether bought privately or at a mart, new sheep should be isolated for approximately four weeks on arrival — this protects both the new arrivals and your existing flock, and gives you a window to dose or vaccinate before mixing them together. AHDB's lameness-prevention guidance gives a more specific minimum: 28 days, with footbaths (10% zinc sulphate or 3% formalin) every 5 days on three occasions during that period, since even a sheep returning from a show can bring back footrot or contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD) that threatens the rest of the flock. AHDB, lameness in sheep.

Check feet before you buy, not after

AHDB is specific about what to look for before a sheep comes home: check every animal for early signs of footrot or CODD, and don't accept stock that are already lame or have chronically misshapen feet. Where possible, inspect feet in person at the source rather than relying on a description, and avoid mixing sheep from different sources in the same transport — a properly cleaned and disinfected vehicle matters too.

Breed suited to your land, not just your eye

UK sheep breeds are genuinely stratified by terrain. Hardy pure breeds such as Blackface or Swaledale have developed to survive and thrive on very little in hill and mountainous conditions; upland areas often run crossbred types like Mules or Half Breds; and lowland ground typically suits crossbred ewes on better grazing. This matters more for sheep than it does for some other backyard species — see our space guide for the hill-vs-lowland weight and space distinction DEFRA's own figures already draw, which lines up with this same breed split.

Before you buy: registration, space, health and cost

In the UK, keeping even one sheep requires registering a holding and getting a flock number — see our legal guide for the full detail, which applies before any of the above. Work out real housing space with our sheep housing calculator, read our health guide for ongoing care, and budget for more than one animal — our companionship guide is honest about the limits of what we could source on flock size specifically, but sheep are flock animals by nature. Run the numbers with plan my setup and our cost guide.

Sources: Farm Advisory Service (Scotland), “So Ewe Want to Keep Sheep? – New Entrants Guide to Keeping Sheep” (funded by the Scottish Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development): fas.scot; AHDB, “Lameness in Sheep: The Five-Point Plan – Cull and Quarantine”: ahdb.org.uk. Sources checked: September 2026. General information, not a substitute for advice from a vet or agricultural consultant.

Common questions

Where do I buy sheep from?

The two main routes are an auction market (a mart) or privately from an established breeder, per Scotland's Farm Advisory Service. Both are genuinely common — a mart gives you more choice in one visit, while buying privately lets you see the flock and ask the breeder directly about health history.

How long should new sheep be quarantined?

At least 4 weeks, per Scotland's Farm Advisory Service, and AHDB's lameness-prevention guidance gives a specific minimum of 28 days with footbathing every 5 days during that period. This applies whether you bought privately or at a mart.

What should I check on a sheep's feet before buying?

AHDB is specific: check every sheep for early signs of footrot or contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD), and don't accept stock that are lame or have chronically misshapen feet. Inspecting feet in person at the source, before the sheep travels, is the ideal.

Does breed choice matter for a first-time sheep keeper?

Yes — UK sheep breeds are genuinely adapted to different terrain: hardy pure breeds like Blackface or Swaledale suit hill and upland conditions, while crossbred ewes are more typical on lowland ground. Choosing a breed suited to your actual land, not just appearance, matters more for sheep than it does for some other backyard species.