Valais Blacknose

Origin & History

Often referred to as the “cutest sheep in the world” these exceptional looking sheep with their curly forelocks, black face and ears, spotted knees and hocks originate in the mountains of the Valais French (French) or Wallis (German) area of Switzerland. The Valais is divided into two halves – the French-speaking lower part and the upper part where Valais German (a Swiss German dialect) is spoken. It is here in the upper part that this breed originates. This area of Switzerland is most commonly known for the Matterhorn and resort town of Zermatt.

They are a breed of domestic sheep and are highly prized and much-loved animals. In addition to their attractive appearance, they have what others have described as “utterly charming” personalities. Meet a Valais it is said, and you have a friend for life!

There is evidence that this breed has existed since the 15th Century. In 1948, the first Upper Valais Sheep Breeders Association was founded but only in 1962 did the breed become a registered breed and was included in the Swiss Sheep Breeders Association in 1964.

In the “Matterhorn Blog”, Paul Julen, an Upper Valais Blacknose sheep farmer from Zermatt, explains that he starts bringing his flock down from the mountains in October in preparation for winter. They have spent six months on the surrounding Alps and some find their way back from the pasture to the farm by themselves. “Blacknose sheep have a memory for places and a sense of time far better than people,” he says.

The Gather - Sally Strathdee
“The Gather” - Photo credit: Sally Strathdee

The Valais Blacknose is considered a rare breed with total numbers not known, but in the vicinity of 20,000 worldwide. In their native Switzerland, their existence is currently threatened by the recent return of the Wolf to the country.
The Swiss border is currently closed to exports of Valais Blacknose Sheep, however in 2014 just prior to the closure, a small number of UK breeders imported animals into the UK.

The first Valais Blacknose lambs were born in New Zealand in 2017 and these were from embryos imported from the UK. As of October 2022, there are approximately 660 pure Valais Blacknose
Sheep registered in New Zealand and 126 registered flocks with the New Zealand Valais Blacknose
Sheep Society.

Valais Blacknose ewe by Melissa Cowan
Valais Blacknose ewe - Photo credit: Melissa Cowan

Breed Description

Valais Blacknose are quiet docile animals that are friendly and inquisitive. In Switzerland, they are a hardy mountain breed, grazing the steepest stoniest slopes of the Alps but as the breed spreads across the world it is proving to be very adaptable to a wide variety of environments.

They are known for easy lambing, tending to have lambs of small birth weights. They can lamb year around. In Switzerland they have dual use, both for meat and producing coarse carpet grade wool. The fibre has an average micron of 38 in mature sheep and lambs are around 28 – 30 micron. The wool also has a long staple (growing around 30cm annually) making it historically favoured for spinning by the Valais farming women. Shearing takes place twice a year in most places. The fleece has a white and fluffy look adding to the “cuddly toy” appeal.

Their characteristic appearance involves black parts of the nose, eyes, ears, front knees, ankles, hocks and feet in an otherwise white coat. Ewes also have black under-tail spots which make for easy sexing at birth! Both sexes have spiral- shaped twisted horns, the males tending to be heavier and spiralling downward while the ewe horns are lighter and generally point outwards. Adding to their striking appearance is the fact that they command a presence in their size. Rams can range from 80 – 130kg with a height of 75 – 83cm and ewes range from 70 – 90kg and 72 – 78 cm in height.

Hogget wool from a Valais Blacknose Sheep
Hogget wool from a Valais Blacknose Sheep - Photo credit: VBNZ

The Swiss have very high breed standards and classify their animals every year. The Oberwalliser Schwarznasen Schafzuchtverband (Upper Valais Breeding Association) have established a grading system based on age to compare individual sheep against a standard for a perfect sheep. The perfect sheep according to these standards is awarded maximum points. Points are awarded in 3 categories – 1. Markings; 2. Conformation and 3. Fleece, so the sheep receives three scores. An animal 12 months and younger has maximum scores of 4,4,4; one of 12 months to 18 months scores 5,5,5 and older sheep are 6,6,6. The most important scores are the conformation and fleece while markings carry less weight.

Like any sheep, the basic requirements include strong upright legs, well developed hindquarters, a good shoulder and backline. And with the Valais, there is the additional strive for well-marked faces, knees, hocks and feet with wool with even fleece and 36-40 microns in adults.

Bodyweight Wool

Ewes: 70 – 90kg and 72 – 78 cm in height

Rams: 80 – 130kg with a height of 75 -83cm

Coarse carpet grade wool.

The fibre has an average micron of 38 in mature sheep and lambs are around 28 – 30 micron.

The wool also has a long staple (growing around 30cm annually) making it historically favoured for spinning by the Valais farming women.

Shearing takes place twice a year in most places.

The fleece has a white and fluffy look
adding to the “cuddly toy” appeal.

Meat

Has a fat content 50% lower than other breeds and is known for being tasty even to those not partial to lamb (probably due to the different variety of mountain herbs they feed on).

Breeding/Lambing

They are known for easy lambing and can lamb year
around.

Numbers

As of October 2022, approximately 660 registered purebred Valais Blacknose and 126 flocks registered with NZSBA.

Breed Classes and Shows

The Swiss are extremely proud of their Valais Blacknose Sheep and have Shows throughout the year.
Two of the most prestigious being Miss Visp, held every February and Widdermarkt, held in March,
which are both hosted by the Upper Valais Blacknose Sheep Breeding Association: Oberwalliser
Schwarznasen Schafzuchtverband.

The UK Valais Society has had its own show, Blacknose Beauties, annually since 2016 in Carlisle,
England.

Sheep are washed and shown in full fleece.

As the number of both purebred animals and members grows, the New Zealand Valais Blacknose
Sheep Society would love to be able to host the first Society Valais Blacknose Show at some stage in
the future.

Overall Supreme Champion and Overall Reserve Champion - Blacknose Beauties 2019 - Melissa Cowan
Overall Supreme Champion and Overall Reserve Champion, Blacknose Beauties 2019 - Photo credit: Melissa Cowan