The Valais Blacknose (German: Walliser Schwarznasenschaf) is a breed of domestic sheep originating in the Valais region of Switzerland.[2] It is a dual-purpose breed, raised both for meat and for wool.[1]: 281 The Valais Blacknose has been dubbed as "cutest sheep in the world."[3]
History
The breed originates in the mountains of the canton of Valais – from which its name derives – and of the Bernese Oberland. It is documented as far back as the fifteenth century, but the present German name was not used before 1884; the breed standard dates from 1962. In the past there was some cross-breeding with imported sheep, in the nineteenth century of Bergamasca and Cotswold stock,[4]: 940 and in the twentieth century of the Southdown breed.[1]: 280 The Valais Blacknose has become a commodity across Europe, the UK, the US, and first reached Australia and New Zealand in 2021.[5]
Characteristics
The Schwarznasenschaf is a mountain breed, well adapted to grazing on the stony pastures of its area of origin.[4]: 940 Both rams and ewes are horned[4]: 940 with helical or spiral-shaped horns. Females have black tail spots.[6]
Use
The Valais Blacknose is a dual-purpose breed, reared for both meat and wool. The wool is coarse: fibre diameter averages approximately 38 microns, and staple length is 100 mm (3.9 in) or more.[4]: 940 The annual yield of wool is about 4 kg (8.8 lb) per head.[1]: 281 They require shearing twice a year.[7]
^ abcdDaniele Bigi, Alessio Zanon (2008). Atlante delle razze autoctone: Bovini, equini, ovicaprini, suini allevati in Italia (in Italian). Milan: Edagricole. ISBN9788850652594. p. 280–281.
