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

Abstract

• 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.