Baby lamb twin boom brings hope to sheep farmer after years of dry
Sheep farmer Brenton Kroehn says the last time he saw so many sets of healthy lamb twins or triplets was about 15 years ago. (ABC Riverland: Julie Kimberley)
In short:
A South Australian sheep farmer says he has seen multiple twin and triplet lamb births at his property this year.
Brenton Kroehn says the wet season has created the right conditions and some merino farmers have even seen quad births this year.
What's next?
A vet says the abundance of feed for stock is helping the lambs to thrive.
"Double the trouble, but double the fun" might be a common phrase used by twin parents, but it is also a reality for a sheep farmer who has experienced one of the most multiple-lamb-birth years in recent memory.
Brenton Kroehn owns Borung Poll Merino Stud at Waikerie in South Australia's Riverland, located around 200 kilometres north-east of Adelaide.
Mr Kroehn said the start to his lambing season had been one of the most exciting ones yet, as many of his recent lamb births were of twins and even some triplets.
A wet first half of the year in South Australia's Riverland region is leading to multiple twin and triplet lambs being born. (ABC Riverland: Julie Kimberley)
"This year there have been very minimal losses out in the paddocks and there's a lot of twins," he said.
"In a harsher year … you do get a lot more losses … so while there are multiple lambs, the ewe might only hang onto one, whereas the other one doesn't make it.
"I've probably seen three or four sets of triplets [this year] and I'm sure there's more we haven't noticed out in the paddocks."
Although the multiple births were not a complete shock, as Mr Kroehn uses ultrasound, he said the timing was perfect.
The Riverland has received a wetter than usual start to the year on the back of several drought years.
There is plenty of feed around for sheep this year after above-average rainfall totals in SA's Riverland region. (ABC Riverland: Julie Kimberley)
More than 290 millimetres of rain has fallen at Gluepot Station about 55 kilometres north of Mr Kroehn's merino stud, the nearest active weather station, since the start of 2026.
It is already more than the station's average total annual rainfall, which is about 260mm.
"We preg scan so we know which ewes are carrying singles and which ones are carrying multiples," Mr Kroehn said.
"In a harsher year we can separate the mobs and feed the twinners accordingly for the nutrition they require to carry their lambs.
"This year it's green and looking wonderful and there's been plenty of feed, so we have left the singles with the twinners because there hasn't been that nutritional pressure."
Nutrition key for mums and babies
Local veterinarian John Hammond was unsurprised to hear about the bumper year for multiple sheep pregnancies and lamb births.
He said the recent wet conditions meant there was an abundance of feed for stock, which was critical to the survival of the lambs.
Dr Hammond said top-up feeding may also still be required.
"Nutrition is really key. If you have twin lambs, that mother needs 50 per cent more food," he said.
"You've got to handfeed them grain and get some extra nutrition into them because the nutritional demands for the mother whilst she is pregnant are massive."
John Hammond says nutrition is key for sheep carrying twin lambs. (ABC Riverland: Julie Kimberley)
After such a prolonged dry period, Mr Kroehn is taking the wins where he can.
"Things have turned around [from previous years] … as far as managing stock and the feed we've got to do that [with], so we're in a really good position," he said.
"It actually makes farming fun [because] it's not as enjoyable when it's tough like it has been.
"A year like this where we've got plenty of feed, our paddocks are covered, the sheep are big and happy; it makes the job really rewarding."
The sheep farmer said some fellow pastoralists had even shared stories of having quad lambs from merino sheep because of this season's prime conditions.
"It's quite unusual [having four lambs from one ewe] with merinos, you hear of it more with your crossbreds and goats … but it's certainly the year for it," he said.
