Valais Blacknose
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
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| Conservation status | unknown |
|---|---|
| Other names | Walliser Schwarznasenschaf |
| Country of origin | Switzerland |
| Use | dual-purpose, meat and wool |
| Traits | |
| Weight |
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| Height |
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| Wool color | white |
| Face color | black |
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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 or more.[3]:940 The annual yield is about 4 kg per head.[1]:281
References
- 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.
- Breed data sheet: Walliser Schwarznasenschaf/Switzerland. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed September 2013.
- 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.
