Key points

• Late pregnancy is a critical time for breeding ewes
• Priority should be given to feed management so that ewe health is optimised and to ensure there is enough colostrum and early milk for lamb viability
• Shearing and ultrasound scanning in mid-pregnancy are useful tools for improving lamb birth weights and survival. They also lead to other improvements in lamb production
• After scanning, single- or multiple-carrying ewes can be run in separate mobs during late pregnancy for differential feeding
• Shearing crossbred ewes with winter combs and lifters in mid-pregnancy can result in increased lamb birth weights and improved lamb survival.