The study was carried out during spring using 64 Sarda ewes. Four groups were allowed to graze plots of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum, S0), sulla (Hedysarum coronarium, S24), or sub-plots of the above species. In this case, after morning milking, the groups were allocated for 3 hours (S3) or 6 hours (S6) to sulla and the rest of the day to ryegrass sub-plots. The herbage intake, measured by the n-alkane method, was undifferentiated between groups in April, while both forages were at a growing stage. In contrast, differences were evident in May (reproductive stage) when herbage intake was higher in all sulla fed groups as compared with S0. A similar response was shown by the intake of digestible dry matter (DM) and milk yield. Milk urea was linearly related to dietary crude protein (CP). To conclude, a time allowance on sulla of 3 h daily enhances intake and performance of dairy sheep grazing ryegrass-based pastures during late spring.