2025 Featured Breed: Valais Blacknose

Posted: January 21, 2025

The Valais Blacknose sheep originate in the Valais region of Switzerland. They are a dual-purpose breed, raised for meat and wool. They are unique to the Upper Valais, and are well adapted to the harsh mountain conditions, being extremely hardy, prolific and frugal.

The black on its nose, eyes, ears, knees, hocks and feet and otherwise light woolly coats make them quite unmistakable. They have large helical or spiral shaped horns, good at grazing steep, rocky slopes and both sexes are horned. Females are 150-200lbs, Males are 175-275lbs. With extremely fast-growing wool, these sheep require shearing 2x a year with over 6-12 inches of wool each shearing. This long sturdy wool is wonderful for art projects, beautiful rugs and so much more.

The earliest mention of the breed dates back to 1400 A.D., but they were first recognized as a separate breed in 1962 in Switzerland. Today, the Swiss herd books include almost 14,000 animals.  The breed was exclusively raised in Switzerland until imported to the British Isles in 2013 and 2014 by several interested breeders. Importation to the US is being pursued through an upgrading program using semen from purebred Valais Blacknose Sheep beginning in fall of 2016. The first importation of embryos was permitted in 2020 out of New Zealand, with the 1st purebred hitting the ground in 2021 in the United States to Joy Dally out of Oregon, Shepherds Lane/Pure Valais.

Valais Blacknose Sheep are known as “The Cutest Sheep In The World”. Their personalities are like big puppy dogs, that want to be with you, unlike most sheep. Stop by the Valais Blacknose Sheep Society (VBSS) booth to enjoy sheep snuggles!

VBSS was founded in 2017 with just a handful of sheep; by 2025, there are almost 500 pure breed VBS in America, along with over 3,000 in the breed up program. These numbers plan to grow fast with just over 600 members in the Valais Blacknose Sheep Society.

To find out more about Valais Blacknose Sheep including a breeder’s list, check out VBSS website at www.valaisblacknosesheepsociety.org.

During the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, look for VBSS in the Breed Display Barn and VBSS members showing Valais Blacknose sheep! VBSS is honored to be the featured breed for 2025 and looks forward to sharing the magnificent Valais Blacknose with you!

Be sure to visit the Featured Breed in the Breed Display Barn while you are at the festival!