Issues and opportunities to capitalize on increased litter size in hill country sheep farming systems-a New Zealand perspective

Increasing productivity and reducing environmental impact can be achieved in sheep farming systems through capitalizing on high fecundity in ewes. Lower survival and growth performance of multiple-born lambs (>= 2 lambs per litter) is limiting potential production efficiency gains. Targeted nutritional strategies in critical short-term developmental time windows during mid-to late pregnancy offer exciting opportunities to improve the survival and production performance of multiple-born lambs. Further basic and applied research is required in these areas to meet the goal of sustainable and profitable sheep farming in pastoral systems.