LAMBS AVAILBLE IN 2025
general info
History of the Blacknose
- 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. They are nonseasonal breeders, with a reproduction rate of 1.6 lambs per year.
Typical Breed Characteristics:
- The characteristics of the Blacknose sheep fall in to three areas: General Appearance, Confirmation and Wool.
- Giving the Blacknose sheep its name, you will find the sheep to have a black nose which extends up to the center of the head connecting and encompassing the black surrounding the eyes.
- The ears are black to the point where they meet the head.
- Knees and hocks have black spots and the hoof/ankle area is black creating the impression of black boots.
- Ewes have a black tail spot, rams do not.
- Horns are helical or spiral and grow outward from the head in both ewes and rams.
- The wool is an important characteristic and the whole body, head and legs is evenly well-covered, exhibiting the sheep’s robust frame.
GRADING VS SHOWING
Here’s a short, simple synopsis on grading Valais Blacknose sheep…What is the difference between GRADING sheep vs. SHOWING sheep? GRADING evaluates the individual sheep against the breed standard. Grading is anonymous - the sheep are assigned a number & tagged, and no breeder/owner handles their own sheep during grading. Grading is done before the show. SHOWING sheep is comparing sheep in the show ring on that particular day and placing the animals in order of their being closest to the breed standard. The breeder/owner will often handle or show their own sheep.
What is GRADING? Only purebreds are eligible for grading. Each individual purebred is graded against the breed standard. The purebred is scored on three categories - appearance (overall structure & proportion, markings), conformation (legs & gait), and wool. The scoring scale changes depending upon the age of the purebred. The goal is three 4s (4/4/4) for age 4-12 months, three 5s (5/5/5) for age 12-24 months, three 6s (6/6/6) for age 24-36 months. Rams or ewes over 36 months of age are no longer eligible for grading. Upon grading, if the quality of the sheep receives the maximum points, this is referred to as “Maximum Points”. If one point was deducted, this is referred to as “-1”; if two points were deducted, this is referred to as “-2”, and so on. A sheep may only be graded one time per year and for three consecutive years. As an animal matures and changes, a grading score at 12-24 months (5/5/5) and then 24-36 months (6/6/6) is more highly regarded than the grading of a lamb at 4-12 months (4/4/4). Why should I have my purebreds graded? Experts formally trained by the Swiss from Europe, with elite flocks of their own, come to the US to evaluate and verify the quality of our sheep. The grading score is something that a buyer can trust as a measure of quality.
What is a breed-up?
The offspring of crossbreeding two different breeds is called F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, etc as the generations advance.
- F1: 50% Valais Blacknose x 50% Foundation Ewe (Scottish Blackface./Babydoll, etc)
The F1 ewes are then bred with purebred semen via a purebred ram or LapAI and they create an F2. - F2: 75% Valais Blacknose x 25% Foundation ewe.
The F2 ewes are then bred with purebred semen via a purebred ram or LapAI and create F3 offspring. - F3: 87.5% Valais Blacknose x 12.5% Foundation Ewe.
The F3 ewes are then bred with purebred semen via a purebred ram or LapAI and create F4 lambs. - F4: 93.75% Valais Blacknose x 6.25% Foundation Ewe.
The F4 ewes are then bred with purebred semen via a purebred ram or LapAI and create F5 lambs. - F5: 96.88% Valais Blacknose x 3.12% Foundation Ewe.
The F5 ewes are then bred with purebred semen via a purebred ram or LapAI and create F6 lambs....
At F4, the F4 ewes are considered “Domestic Purebreds”.
At F5, the F5 rams are considered “Domestic Purebreds”.
(pictured here is our F2 ewe Mesa. What an amazing example she is of a breed-up ewe.)
VALAIS BLACKNOSE BREED STANDARD
APPEARANCE
CONFORMATION
CONFORMATION
Colour Features
- Black nose to the centre of the head
- Black encompassing the eye area connecting with the black of the nose, no gap is permitted
- Black ears – black should meet the white of the head
- Black hooves and ankle area (‘black socks’)
- Black spots on knees and hocks (spots can be non-symmetrical)
- Females are to have a black tail spo
Colour Features
- Black nose to the centre of the head
- Black encompassing the eye area connecting with the black of the nose, no gap is permitted
- Black ears – black should meet the white of the head
- Black hooves and ankle area (‘black socks’)
- Black spots on knees and hocks (spots can be non-symmetrical)
- Females are to have a black tail spot. There must be a finger-width gap of white on the tail.
- For females missing a marking feature i.e. knee spot, a point deduction might be made depending on overall conformation and wool.
- Males must not have a tail spot
- Male scrotum and belly area may have black pigmentation, but the black must not spread upward of the scrotum area, under the tail and into the fleece.
- Spitti: On occasion a purebred Valais Blacknose may produce offspring marked in reverse colour /markings which are referred to as ‘Spitti’ (a name adopted in the UK from Swiss Blacknose breeders). However, in Switzerland the ‘Spitti’ may be referred to by different names in the varying villages and areas of Valais. Spitti rams should be castrated and not used for breeding purposes.
Head & Neck
- Well proportioned, compact head
- Roman nose, wide mouth, broad forehead
- Pronounced, regal head shape in rams. Mature rams often develop protuberance behind horn base
- Short, straight well-muscled neck
Horns
- Spiral outward from head, horizontally away from cheeks (You should always be able to fit a flat hand comfortably between the horn and cheek)
- Black stripes in the horns are acceptable
Chest, Shoulder & Withers
- Wide, deep, chest area
- Shoulders line naturally with neck and chest
- Well-spaced, wide withers
- Rib cage curvature is well proportioned and rounded
Back & Loin
- Long, straight top line
- Wide back and loin
Pelvis, Abdomen & Hindquarters
- Medium sized belly with small belly hollows/pits (paralumbar fossa)
- Wide and medium-length pelvis
- Well-muscled hindquarters
Withers (from two years)
- Female: 72 – 78 cm
- Male: 75 – 83 cm
Weight (over two years)
- Female: 70 – 90 kg
- Male: 80 – 125 kg
CONFORMATION
CONFORMATION
CONFORMATION
Limbs
- Strong, sure footed
- Solid hoof deportment
- Legs are not bandy/bow legged
- Legs are not knock-kneed
Foundations
- Slight hock angulation
- Short, strong pasterns (45-degree angle)
- Solid bone structure
- Joints should be straight and sound
Gait
- Spacious, sure footed and wide legged
- Doesn’t sway or waver
- Even and stable movement
- Mobile with ease
WOOL
CONFORMATION
WOOL
- Fleece in lambs is soft to touch but becomes coarser as the sheep matures (The Swiss grade approximately equates to 28-38 microns depending on age and gender. Fiber diameter generally finest in lambs and coarsest in adult males)
- Staple length is 10cm based on 6 months growth (Recommended to be shorn twice a year. Fleece weight when shorn
- Fleece in lambs is soft to touch but becomes coarser as the sheep matures (The Swiss grade approximately equates to 28-38 microns depending on age and gender. Fiber diameter generally finest in lambs and coarsest in adult males)
- Staple length is 10cm based on 6 months growth (Recommended to be shorn twice a year. Fleece weight when shorn approx. – Lambs 1-1.5 kg / Ewes 2.5 -3kg / Rams 2.5 – 3kg – Based on 6 months growth)
- Fleece is uniformly white and balanced over the whole body
- Wool on legs is thick and full
- Wool on head is natural and long
- Some black hairs /fibers are tolerated on the neck area (Females only. In males up to 18 months of age this should be factored when cast