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• The study uses DEA and LCA to optimize sheep farming production. • Energy use in sheep farming can be reduced by 9.82% with optimization. • Food production is responsible for 69% of the environmental impact. • Optimization in sheep farming can save 4677.64 MJ of energy. • Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced with optimization strategies. Over the past decades, the global population has significantly increased, resulting in high demand for food. China, the largest sheep-producing country, has experienced 20 rapid expansions in its sheep industry, which has caused environmental consequences. This study proposes an integrated approach that combines data envelopment analysis (DEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) to assess the ecological consequences of the sheep production system. Therefore, this work aims to evaluate the energy consumption of the existing production system and identify optimization opportunities to reduce its environmental impacts. Our results demonstrate that sheep production can decrease total energy consumption by 9.82% using optimization. Food production was reported as a critical factor in environmental impact, responsible for 69%. However, the optimized approach led to a decrease of 4,677.64 MJ in energy consumption in sheep production compared to the initial state. The findings of this study showcase the possibility of decreasing energy usage and lessening greenhouse gas (GHG) discharges in sheep farming by implementing optimization strategies. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]