Valais Blacknose

Sheep · Wool · 0 live listings

Valais Blacknose come from the Valais region of Switzerland, with black faces, ears, knees and feet and long, curly white wool. Known for being very friendly, they are kept in the US mostly as pets and fiber sheep.

At a glance

Purpose
Wool, pet
Origin
Valais, Switzerland
Mature weight
Ewes 150–200 lb
Lifespan
10–12 years
Temperament
Very friendly
Best fit
Pet flocks, fiber
Species
Sheep
Category
Livestock
Group
Wool
Registries
Breed association, Scrapie program tag, NSIP (genetic evaluation)
Papers
5 categories
DocilityVery friendly
HardinessMountain hardy
Fleece workShear twice a year
Beginner fitHeavy fleece work

Scales follow breed-club and veterinary consensus; individual animals vary. Listings show what each seller has on file.

The tradeoffs, honestly

Their long wool usually needs shearing twice a year and is coarse, best for felting. US animals are graded up from imported semen, so percentage and papers matter.

Common questions

Are US Valais Blacknose purebred?

Most are upgraded from semen, since live imports have been limited. Breeders record percentages such as 7/8 or 15/16. Ask for the percentage and registry.

What health tests should they have?

Ask for OPP, CL and Johne's results for the flock, and check that each sheep carries official scrapie ID. Codon 171 scrapie genotype (RR is resistant) is worth asking for on breeding rams.

How often do they need shearing?

Usually twice a year. The wool grows long and dense and can hold heat and mud if left too long.

Market, past 90 daysFull index →
Not enough sales yet for a median
Typical rangeNot enough sales yet for a rangeLive listings0
Health tests to ask for
Veterinary exam on fileScrapie genotypeOPP negativeJohne's negativeCL (caseous lymphadenitis) negativeCD&T currentDNA parentage verifiedOfficial scrapie ID recorded

Ask the seller for these. Documents on Everybarn are on file for your own checks; we don't check them with the issuer.

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Valais Blacknose · Everybarn