Breed Standard – Valais Blacknose Sheep

Swiss Sheep Breeding Association
Industriestrasse 9
SSZV 2019/2020
3362 Niederönz
062 956 68 68
info@sszv.ch
www.sszv.ch

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1. Origin

The Blacknose breed was first mentioned in the 15th century. Its characteristics, developed over centuries, such as adaptability to harsh mountain climates, efficient feed conversion, fertility, hardiness, and site fidelity, make this breed unique.

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2. Overview

The Valais Blacknose Sheep is a large-framed, resilient, frugal, and harmonious mountain sheep with a strong build. Its distinctive horns, striking black markings on the head and legs, and long wool make it expressive and unique.

It is sensitive to high temperatures, which significantly affects its grazing behavior and food intake during summer months.

With its non-seasonal breeding, good maternal qualities, and meat production, the Blacknose Sheep remains part of the Valais cultural heritage and is particularly popular among breeders in Upper Valais.

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3. Breeding Goals

• Maintain and improve resilience, free from genetic defects

• Adaptability to alpine conditions

• Sure-footedness and site fidelity

• Optimal grass-based feed utilization

• Longevity with an average production duration of 5 to 7 years

• Medium meat quality (T)

• Wool quality: F 5–4, free of kemp fibers, length over 4 inches in 180 days

• Correct color markings in both female and male animals

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4. Temperament

The Valais Blacknose Sheep has a calm disposition. It grazes naturally in the morning from dawn until sunrise and in the evening from sunset until nightfall.

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5. Reproduction

5.1 Lambing
Lambing is non-seasonal, mainly occurring in autumn, winter, and spring. The first lambing should occur at 18 months of age.

5.2 Fertility (Breeding Value)

• Average of 1.6 lambs per ewe per year

• At least 2 live lambs by age 3

• At least 4 live lambs in the 4th and 5th years

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6. Exterior Assessment

6.1 Type (Format)
Large-framed sheep with a harmonious body, medium muscle, good growth, and distinctive color markings.

6.1.1 Color Markings

• Black from nose to mid-head; black eye circles connected to nose coloration; black ears; black, horizontal pastern markings; uniform black spots on hocks and knees.

• Female sheep: A black tail spot is desired but must be interrupted.

• Male sheep: No tail spot tolerated.

6.1.2 Head and Neck

• Short, compact head, broad muzzle, wide forehead, and Roman nose

• Medium-length ears

• Proper or aligned dental structure

• Pronounced head shape in males

• Short, well-muscled neck

6.1.3 Horns

• Spiral-shaped, well-spaced from cheeks; horizontal or curved

• Large spirals accepted; black stripes in horns tolerated occasionally

6.1.4 Chest and Shoulders

• Broad, deep chest with well-arched ribs

• Fitting shoulders

6.1.5 Withers

• Mature animals: 28.3–30.7 inches (females), 29.5–33.5 inches (males)

• Broad and closed withers

6.1.6 Back, Pelvis, Loin, Thigh

• Straight topline, broad back

• Broad, well-muscled loin

• Good flank depth

• Medium-length, broad pelvis

• Well-muscled thighs

6.1.7 Weight

• Mature animals: 154–198 pounds (females), 176–264 pounds (males)

6.2 Limbs

6.2.1 Legs

• Strong bone structure

• Sturdy, well-positioned, evenly wool-covered

6.2.2 Position/Stance

• Correctly positioned hind legs; not cow-hocked or bow-legged

• Broad front stance; not knock-kneed

• Moderate hock angulation

• Short, strong pasterns

6.2.3 Gait

• Spacious (not swaying)

• Sure-footed

• Broad-based

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6.3 Wool

6.3.1 Fleece Coverage/Density

• Fleece coverage from elbow and udder joints to ear and neck line (including tail)

• Even, natural fleece coverage over the body

• Uniform white fleece

• Black wool hairs on the neck are tolerated in females and males over 18 months

• Staple length over 4 inches in 180 days

• Fineness: F 5–4

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6.4 Defects

6.4.1 Minor Defects (With Point Deduction)

• Missing breed characteristics

• Color defects (patches)

• Gray or brown discoloration of breed markings on head and limbs

• White or black tongue spots on pasterns

• Missing Roman nose

• White ear base

• Black extending beyond ears

• Unkempt animals

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7. Disqualification Reasons (Score 1)**

First assessment or up to 18 months:

Type

• Monorchidism, uneven or missing testes

• Dwarfism

• Uneven jaw length, incorrect dental structure

• Tail not docked according to Swiss animal welfare regulations

Foundation

• Collapsed pasterns, extreme leg misalignment

Wool

• Mixed-colored wool

• Kemp fibers and excessive guard hairs in fleece

7.1 Breed-Specific Disqualification (Score 1)
First assessment or up to 18 months, males:

• Body spots within fleece coverage area

• Missing black spot on hock or front knee

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8. Not Evaluated

Sheep without ear tags

Additional for Intercantonal Exhibitions

• Animals with diseases or injuries such as hoof rot, ringworm, orf, pink eye, udder diseases, injuries, mastitis, and reproductive diseases

• Animals with uneven staple length within fleece coverage

• Severely emaciated or heavily soiled animals