Valais Blacknose

About Valais Blacknose

Read all about the origins and history of this amazing breed.

The Valais Blacknose, also known by its German name of Walliser Schwarznasenschaf, and commonly referred to as “the cutest sheep in the world” 

Our Valais Blacknose are a hardy breed of sheep originating from the mountains of the Valais region of Switzerland. It is a breed of a domestic sheep native to the Canton of Valais in Switzerland. The breed originates in the upper part of the Valais, where Valais German (a Swiss German dialect) is spoken. 

They are highly prized and much-loved animals. This area of Switzerland is most commonly known for the Matterhorn and resort town of Zermatt.
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.
The Valais Blacknose is considered a rare breed with total numbers not known, but in the vicinity of 30,000 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.

However, in 2014 just prior to the closure, a small number of UK breeders imported animals into the UK.  

The first Valais Blacknose lambs born in NZ was in 2017 and these were from embryos imported from the UK.
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