The Awassi is the main type of sheep in the Middle East, where it is kept under a wide range of production systems. The prolificacy of the Awassi is low -about 1.2 lambs born per ewe lambing (LB/EL). To increase prolificacy without adverting the Awassi phenotype and adaptability, a scheme was initiated in 1986 to introduce the FecB (Booroola) gene into the Awassi. Results so far show that lamb production in Booroola Awassi crosses carrying one copy of the B allele is about 2.0 LB/EL and that milk production is not affected by the Booroola gene. Distribution of BB or B+ Awassi rams in Awassi flocks can dramatically increase their productivity. DNA markers linked to the Booroola gene can be used in selection of lambs carrying the gene.