Valais Blacknose

The Valais Blacknose, Walliser Schwarznasenschaf, is a breed of domestic sheep originating in the Valais region of Switzerland. It is a dual-purpose breed, raised both for meat and for wool.

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 with Bergamasca and Cotswold stock, and in the twentieth century with the Southdown.

The Valais Blacknose is also present in Austria, Germany and Holland. The total population reported in Switzerland for 2023 was $10,286$, with $9,380$ ewes registered in the herd-book; the conservation status of the breed is listed as 'not at risk'.

Characteristics
The Schwarznasenschaf is a mountain breed, well adapted to grazing on the stony pastures of its area of origin. Both rams and ewes are horned, with helical or spiral-shaped horns. Ewes may have black spots on the tail, but rams may not.

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 or more. The annual yield of wool is about 4 kg per head.