History of the Valais Blacknose Sheep

The Valais Blacknose sheep originated in Switzerland’s Valais region and has roots going back to the 15th century, though they were only officially recognized as a breed in 1962. While rare outside Switzerland, they have started to spread across Europe. In 2014, they made their way to the UK, where premier breeders like Raymond Irvine (Highland Flock) and Jamie Wood (Prendwick Flock) have established high-quality flocks meeting the Swiss breed standards. New Zealand soon followed, with breeders like Sally and Lindsay Strathbee and Christine Reed developing their own show-quality flocks using imported embryos and semen from top Swiss bloodlines.

Introducing Valais Blacknose to North America 

The first Valais Blacknose semen became available in North America around late 2017. Solwaybank Commander, one of the first approved rams, sired many of the initial lambs. Although semen was the only means of breeding these sheep in North America at first, the first embryos arrived in the summer of 2020, leading to the birth of the first purebred Valais lambs in the U.S. in 2021. The "breed-up" program has been crucial in establishing the breed in North America, due to the high cost and variable success rate of embryo transfers.

In the breed-up program, carefully selected foundation ewes are artificially inseminated with frozen semen from purebred Valais Blacknose rams. Breeds like Scottish Blackface, Horned Dorset, and White Icelandic are often used as foundation ewes, with Scottish Blackface being especially popular for its compatibility with Valais characteristics. The process requires expertise in laparoscopic artificial insemination, so a skilled vet is essential. The process continues through generations, progressing from F1 to F4 for ewes, with each stage using a new set of Valais Blacknose genetics. Ewes reaching the F4 generation and meeting the breed standard can be registered as purebreds; for rams, registration is possible by F5.

A key part of the breed-up program is DNA verification for every generation, which ensures pedigree accuracy. Breeders dedicated to Swiss-quality Valais Blacknose aim to use genetics from high-scoring animals (up to 6/6/6 points) as assessed by Swiss judges. Only about 5% of Valais Blacknose achieve this “maximum points” rating, so breeding with these standards helps build a flock with high conformity to the original breed.

Generational Traits: What F1, F2, and F3 Lambs Look Like

A common question is how each generation of breed-up lambs looks compared to purebred Valais Blacknose. The appearance of F1, F2, and F3 lambs can vary based on the foundation ewe's breed. For example, Scottish Blackface ewes are popular choices for foundation, and their lambs often exhibit good Valais-like features by the third generation. Other foundation breeds, like the Horned Dorset, produce lambs with slightly lighter markings but a fluffier coat. Less commonly, some breeders use White Icelandic ewes, though there is less documentation of their results. Each generation must also exhibit horns to meet the Swiss breed standard. Breeders who use hornless foundation ewes risk producing lambs that cannot be registered.

F1 Generation

F1 lambs are a 50% cross with Valais Blacknose, so they inherit a mix of features from both parent breeds. These lambs often have a variety of black markings, especially on their heads and legs, and sometimes larger black patches across their bodies. If the foundation ewe is a Scottish Blackface, you’ll see more defined black markings, while Horned Dorset crosses tend to have minimal black, usually only on the face. F1s typically lack wool on their faces and have little to no wool on their legs as well.

F2 Generation

An F2 lamb has a 75% Valais Blacknose background, so its appearance is starting to reflect more Valais characteristics. The exact look of an F2 lamb still varies depending on the foundation ewe, but overall, markings tend to become more distinct and consistent. Typically, the black markings are more defined on the head and legs, although some F2s might still show all-black legs or occasional body spots. A few F2 lambs even achieve the classic knee and hock markings, while others might have mostly white legs with some black accents. The black on the nose usually extends further up the face, but it often doesn’t yet connect with the black around the eyes.

Compared to F1s, F2 lambs also start growing wool on their heads and legs, and their body wool is noticeably longer. Lambs from Horned Dorset crosses still have predominantly white coats, but their nose markings are bolder, and they often appear fluffier than those with Scottish Blackface ancestry. By the F2 stage, these lambs need shearing twice a year, and this fuller, fast-growing coat is apparent even to those new to the breed.