Descent - Dissemination

The black-nosed sheep is a frugal landrace that is well adapted to the harsh conditions of the mountains. This unique breed is located in the Upper Valais, which means in the German-speaking part of the canton of Valais. There is evidence that this breed has existed since the 15th century. Today there are 13,700 herd bay animals. The reproduction rate is 1.6 lambs per year.

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Typical breed characteristics

The black nose to the middle of the head gives the black-nosed sheep its name. The black color continues to stretch without interruption up to the eyes. Also the ears are black up to the head. In addition, we find black spots on the ankle bumps and on the front knees. In addition, the legs are short black boots. The female animals have a tail patch. Typical of the black-nosed sheep are the helical or spiral horns. The wool plays an important role, meaning that the whole body, the head and the legs should be equally well-groomed.

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General Appearance

The Valais black-nosed sheep is a mountain sheep breed with a uniform volume throughout the body. The Behornung and color characteristics characterize the unique appearance of the Valais black-nosed sheep. The Valais black-nosed sheep has a harmonious, robust and großrahmigen physique.

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1st type (format)

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Colors Features:    

• Nose to the middle of the head black

• black eye border, bilaterally associated with nasal colouration

• black ears

• black, horizontal fetter dye

• even black spots on the ankle bumps and on the front knees

• in females, a tail spot is desired, but this may not be too big and must be interrupted

• in the male animals no tail blotching is tolerated

• for females, in the absence of a feature, depending on the type and format, a deduction is made

Head and neck:    

• Short, dressed head

• wide mouth, wide forehead and Ramsnase (ram nose)

• Ears medium long

• pronounced head shape in males

• short, well-muscled neck

Horns:    

• Spiral, well set off horizontally from the cheeks

• occasionally black stripes are tolerated

Chest, shoulder, withers:   

• Wide and deep chest

• Shoulder well fitting

• Withers wide and closed

• good rib curvature

Back, loin:    

• Long, straight and wide back

• wide loin

Pelvis, abdomen, club:

• Belly medium and with small hunger pits

• wide and medium-length pelvis

• Club well muscled

Withers (from two years):

• female: 72 - 78 cm   (28" - 31")

• male: 75 - 83 cm  (30" - 33")

Weight (over two years):    

• Female: 70 - 90 kg    (90 - 198 lbs) 

• male: 80 - 125 kg   (125 - 276 lbs)

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2nd Foundation

Limbs:    

• Strong and well placed

• not cow-horny and not o-legged

• wide-legged position of the front legs (not x-legged)

Foundation:    

• Mean ankle angulation

• short and strong shackles

• solid bone structure

Corridor:    

• Spacious, sure-footed and wide-legged

• not wavering

3. Wool

• Fineness 5 -4

• Pile length over 10 cm with half year chord

• balanced and natural wound all over the body, including the head and legs

• uniformly white, some black hairs are tolerated on the neck (in males up to 18 months it is an exclusion reason)

• balanced fleece

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Exclusion

Anatomy:    

• Jaw: shortened lower jaw or uneven jaw length

• Teeth: If teeth are not attached or adjacent to the chuck plate (up to 18 months, both male and female)

• trampled fetters

• dwarfism

• Einhodigkeit

• Testicular bag breakage

Colors Features:

• In male animals, body spots within the fleece boundary (above the abdominal line), tail spots, and lack of a color feature

Wool:

• Stichelhaare and thread

• excessive awn hair

• mixed-colored wool up to an age of 18 months at Aries

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