[shygirl]

Not quite - the number of eggs released is down to the female, and the male fertilises them.


However, the number of eggs a female releases is inherited in part from her father and in part from her mother, so whether you ram was one of multiples or not is really only relevant if you intend to keep his female offspring to breed from.

I meant genetically the male is as responsible for identical twins as the female, as the embryo splits into 2 embryos. according to my doc anyway, cant see how it would be different in sheep.

[Bramblecot]

6 year old very strong ewe, 4 previous lambings using different rams, no problems at all.  2 singles and 2 sets of twins.  Thought I would give her an easy time this year  and put her to my Shetland, none of the ewes he has served previously had any problems either....
She had 2 raddle markings so I was not expecting her to lamb for another 17 days. 
Yesterday she started lambing and it all went downhill rapidly .  She always takes a long time but I knew something was wrong, had a feel and a huge lamb in breach position.  Beyond my capabilities, so I called the vet.  She was there in 40 minutes (it is a 20 minute drive) and was brilliant.  Could not save the first ram lamb (perfectly formed ) but untangled a little ewe behind him.
Not a good start to this year's lambing , 26 to go.

Ewe has masses of milk, as always, and is a brilliant mum. 

[Blacksheep]

How often do identical twins actually occur, we have never seen it in our flock? I imagine the ram effect on litter sizes is something other than the production of identical twins.

[JulieWall]

Assuming identical means having exactly the same markings (and obviously same sex) I've never had identical twins in over 20 years, does it really happen to sheep or is it just rare?

[Me]

I've not seen it either, but must happen??

[ZaktheLad]

Never had identical twins either in 30 years but plenty of twins that are total opposites i.e. one pure white and one jet black! I have got a shearling ewe however that is the identical copy of her mother!  It is only her current smaller size that makes it possible for me to tell them apart - they are just the spitting image of each other!