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

Implications •Capitalising on the productivity and eco-efficiency gains associated with highly fecund ewes has significant potential to improve the profitability of sheep flocks in hill country. •Lower survival and growth performance of multiple-born lambs (≥2 lambs per litter) is limiting potential production efficiency gains. •Targeted nutritional intervention strategies in critical short-term developmental time windows during mid-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 key areas to meet the goal of sustainable and profitable sheep farming.