The mating and lambing records for 1964–1972 of a Romney stud that had been experiencing a serious dystocia problem were investigated. Until 1970 between 20 and 31% of ewes required assistance at lambing but this level then fell to 18% in 1971, 11% in 1972, 3.3% in 1973 and 4.0% in 1974. The decline in dystocia evident in the latter years of the investigation is considered to have been brought about largely by the culling of ewes that were repeatedly assisted at parturition and by the selection of rams that sired lambs of lower birth weight.