Valais Blacknose
Other namesWalliser Schwarznasenschaf
Country of originSwitzerland
Usedual-purpose, meat and wool
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    80–130 kg (180–290 lb)
  • Female:
    70–90 kg (150–200 lb)
Height
  • Male:
    75–83 cm (30–33 in)
  • Female:
    72–78 cm (28–31 in)[1]: 281 
Wool colourwhite
Face colourblack

The Valais Blacknose (German: Walliser Schwarznasenschaf) is a breed of domestic sheep originating in the Valais region of Switzerland.[2] It is a dual-purpose breed, raised both for meat and for wool.[1]: 281 

History

The breed originates in the mountains of the canton of Valais – from which its name derives – and of the Bernese Oberland. It is documented as far back as the fifteenth century, but the present German name was not used before 1884; the breed standard dates from 1962. In the past there was some cross-breeding with imported sheep, in the nineteenth century of Bergamasca and Cotswold stock,[3]: 940  and in the twentieth century of the Southdown breed.[1]: 280 

Characteristics

The Schwarznasenschaf is a mountain breed, well adapted to grazing on the stony pastures of its area of origin.[3]: 940  Both rams and ewes are horned.[3]: 940 

Use

The Valais Blacknose is a dual-purpose breed, reared for both meat and wool. The wool is coarse: fibre diameter averages approximately 38 microns, and staple length is 100 mm (3.9 in) or more.[3]: 940  The annual yield of wool is about 4 kg (8.8 lb) per head.[1]: 281 

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Daniele Bigi, Alessio Zanon (2008). Atlante delle razze autoctone: Bovini, equini, ovicaprini, suini allevati in Italia (in Italian). Milan: Edagricole. ISBN 9788850652594. p. 280–281.
  2. ↑ Breed data sheet: Walliser Schwarznasenschaf/Switzerland. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed September 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.

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