Long white spiral curls on a black face, long curly fleece with black knees and feet spots. Valais Blacknose Sheep are known as “The Cutest Sheep In The World”! Their appearance grabs your attention and their personality makes you fall in love!
Bet your first words were, “Those are adorable!” They look like stuffed animals with their fluffy curly white wool and eye-catching bold black markings on their face & nose, ears, knees, hocks and feet. The Valais have an easygoing, gentle, curious, people-friendly disposition with behavior more dog-like than sheep. The Valais are popular pasture pets, as well as breeding stock.
The Valais Blacknose are a new breed to the United States. Prior to 2020, there were no purebred Valais Blacknose sheep in the US. The process to produce “domestic purebreds” in the United States is through the Breed Up Program. The first purebred frozen embryos were imported into the US in 2020.
Valais Blacknose Sheep are a mountain breed originating from the Valais region of Switzerland in the Swiss Alps, in the 1400s. Valais Blacknose are a wool and meat breed. These beauties grow 12 inches of wool per year! Shearing them twice per year is recommended. Switzerland started AND STOPPED exportation of Valais Blacknose live animals in 2013-2014.
History
The Blacknose sheep originates from the Valais canton of Switzerland. Native to the Upper Valais region, the Blacknose graze in the Alps in the summer months June-September. Though housed through the winter, the Blacknose is a sturdy breed which is well adapted to the harsh conditions of the mountains, which can be endured even in the summer months.
There is evidence that the Blacknose has existed since the 15th century, however they have changed greatly in appearance over the years and once resembled the likes of a Scottish Blackface. Over time, characteristics have evolved to the majestic sheep we see today.
In Valais, it is reported that there are in the region of 13,700 registered Blacknose sheep in the breed flock book. As a large, relatively slow-maturing breed, Valais Blacknose ewes in Switzerland are usually not bred until they are over 12 months of age, normally lambing for the first time at 18-24 months old. They are also nonseasonal breeders, with a reproduction rate of 1.6 lambs per year, however it is recommended to breed naturally once a year.