**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** LOW BIRTH WEIGHT IS STRONGLY CORRELATED WITH RISK OF DEATH OR ILL-THRIFT AT BIRTH IN ALL MAMMALIAN LIVESTOCK SPECIES, INCLUDING SHEEP. THIS DEATH LOSS DECREASES THE EFFICIENCY OF MEAT PRODUCTION FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION AND CONTRIBUTES TO FOOD INSECURITY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. THEREFORE, UNDERSTANDING SIMPLE, COST EFFECTIVE MEANS TO PROMOTE FETAL GROWTH THROUGH IMPROVED PLACENTAL DEVELOPMENT AND FUNCTION HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF MEAT PRODUCTION FROM SHEEP AND OTHER RUMINANT LIVESTOCK SPECIES BY REDUCING PERINATAL DEATH LOSSES, WHICH MAY EXCEED 20%. IN PRELIMINARY STUDIES WE HAVE IDENTIFIED TWO POTENTIAL NUTRACEUTICAL PRODUCTS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO STIMULATE PLACENTAL DEVELOPMENT AND FUNCTION. OUR PROJECT AIMS TO DETERMINE IF EITHER OR BOTH OF OUR NUTRACEUTICAL PRODUCTS (CITRULLINE OR PUTRESCINE) IMPROVES FETAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN LAMBS. WE WILL THEN CARRY OUT ADDITIONAL IN-DEPTH STUDIES TO DETERMINE THE MECHANISM(S) BY WHICH THESE PRODUCTS IMPROVED FETAL GROWTH, IF THAT IS AN OBSERVED RESULT. IF EITHER OF THESE PRODUCTS IS SHOWN TO IMPROVE FETAL GROWTH OF LAMBS WE WOULD EXPECT THAT THESE FINDINGS WOULD BE TRANSLATED TO PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE THROUGH THE INCORPORATION OF THESE NUTRACEUTICALS INTO FEEDSTUFFS FORMULATED FOR AND FED TO GESTATING EWES.