About the Valais Blacknose Breed
The Valais Blacknose is a rare breed of sheep that originates from the canton of Valais in Switzerland.
The breed is known for their docile nature and beautiful long and curly white fleece.
Breed Characteristics
When selecting a sheep for breeding a buyer should consider the sheep’s general appearance, confirmation and wool.
Valais Blacknose sheep should have a blacknose that should surround the eyes of the sheep without any breaks of white. The sheep’s ears should be black from the tip to the base of the head.
Both rams and ewes should have black hocks and knees. There should be white wool between these and the black ”sock” encompassing the hoof.
Ewes have a black spot under the tail, this can encompass the top of the tail once there is at least a pencil width of white wool breaking the black on the tail.
Rams should not have a black spot under the tail. The scrotum can be black or white or a mixture. The black should not go past the navel point of the sheep and should not carry upwards on the body. The black should end at the scrotum and not carry upwards towards the tail.
…contd
Both males and females have spiral horns that should grow outwards from the head. Male horns will be thicker as they mature. Horns should not rub the side of the sheep’s head.
Valais Blacknose are known for their wool and require shearing twice a year due to the rate of growth. The wool should be evenly balanced length across the sheep’s legs, body and head. The wool will grow to a staple length of 10cm in 6 months. This is optimum length for showing your sheep.
Overall confirmation and body structure is very important in this mountain breed. A correct, broad mouth is sought after. A deep, wide chest following through to wide shoulders, a straight top line and wide hindquarters is ideal. Legs should be solid and straight, allowing for correct and free movement when walking. It is important that legs are not bowed or knee-knocked.
Castration Criteria For Rams
Confirmation:
- Incorrect mouth (up to 18 months of age) ie. undershot or overshot jaw length
- Bow legged or weak pasterns
- Absence of testicle/s
- Presence of scrotal hernia
Markings
- Additional black markings on body or legs
- Missing markings ie. from knees or hocks
- Panda eyed (white break between the eye and mouth) on one or both sides of the head
- Presence of black tail spot
