Oral stereotypic behaviours are common in feedlot lambs and take the form of biting and licking objects. This study examined the effects of mild feed restriction on the development of these stereotypies, as well as the effects of protein level within the restricted treatments. All lambs (38 in total) were fed diets containing 12.1 MJ ME/kg DM. The restricted fed lambs were fed their diets at 85% of the ad libitum intake of the control animals. The two restricted groups had different levels of protein in their diets as well. Both restricted diets resulted in higher levels of various licking and biting behaviours. In terms of overall oral stereotypic behaviours, the high protein restricted treatment had higher levels than either the low protein restricted or the ad libitum treatments, which did not differ. Energy restriction resulted in increased oral stereotypies, and high levels of protein in the diet increased the levels of stereotypies even further.