Valais Blacknose

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Valais Blacknose
Valais Blacknose Sheep.jpg
Conservation statusunknown
Other namesWalliser Schwarznasenschaf
Country of originSwitzerland
Usedual-purpose, meat and wool
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    80–130 kg
  • Female:
    70–90 kg
Height
  • Male:
    75–83 cm
  • Female:
    72–78 cm[1]:281
Wool colorwhite
Face colorblack

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 or more.[3]:940 The annual yield is about 4 kg per head.[1]:281

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d 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. ^ Jump up to: a b c d 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.

See also[]


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