Valais Blacknose sheep
The Valais Blacknose is a big, horned Swiss wool sheep with a black face, black ears and black knees and feet, and a reputation as quiet, docile, friendly and inquisitive. Ewes weigh 150–200 lb and rams 175–287 lb, and the long, coarse fleece needs shearing at least twice a year. The catch is the price and the paperwork: purebred lambs in the US are listed at $6,000–25,000, and US animals are recorded by their percentage of Valais blood, so check the registry percentage before you buy.
- Temperament
- Quiet, Docile, Friendly, Inquisitive
- Cold tolerance
- Heat tolerance
Is the Valais Blacknose right for you?
Good fit if
- You want a quiet, friendly sheep you will handle often
- You spin and want long, coarse wool
- You are ready to shear at least twice a year, or pay a shearer to
Poor fit if
- You want a small sheep. Ewes weigh 150–200 lb and rams 175–287 lb
- You have a pet budget. Purebred lambs are listed at $6,000–25,000
- You want fine, soft wool. Adult fleece is coarse, carpet-grade wool
- You live somewhere hot and can't shear three or four times a year
Appearance and varieties
A Valais Blacknose is a white sheep with black on the nose and around the eyes, black ears, black spots on the knees and hocks and black 'socks' on the feet. Ewes also have a black spot under the tail, which makes lambs easy to sex at birth; rams must not.
It is a large, solid sheep with a Roman nose and a broad forehead. In New Zealand adult ewes stand 72–78 cm (about 28–31 in) at the withers and rams 75–83 cm (about 30–33 in). Both sexes are horned. Rams' horns are thicker and spiral forward and down, then curl out to the side; ewes' horns are thinner and spiral slightly down, then curl out to the side.
The fleece is white, double-coated and long, with thick wool on the legs and long wool on the head. It is soft in lambs and coarsens as the sheep matures.
The US society's standard says halters should not be used in the show ring because they slip down the Roman nose and can restrict the nostrils; handlers walk the sheep by hand or with a collar and lead.32
Temperament and handling
The New Zealand Sheepbreeders Association describes the breed as quiet and docile, friendly and inquisitive, and says people describe their personalities as 'utterly charming'.2
Animals vary within a breed. Treat this as what to expect, not a promise, and meet the animal before you buy if you can.
Production numbers
What our sources report for the breed. If two sources disagree, you see the full range.
| Measure | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fleece per shearing | Ewes 2.5–6.6 lb, rams 5.5–6 lb, lambs 2.2–3.3 lb3 | About six months' growth. Shorn at least twice a year. |
| Staple length | 4–6 in per six months; about 12 in a year32 | |
| Fibre diameter | 28–30 microns in lambs; about 38 in mature sheep23 | |
| Lambing | Known for easy lambing and small lambs at birth; can lamb year-round2 | |
| Gestation | About 147 days13 | Sheep in general; varies by breed. |
Housing, feed and health
Housing
For sheep in general, UMass Extension says they can cope with harsh weather without a building if they have forage, water and protection from the wind, but recommends housing for winter lambing. Its recommended pen space is 10–14 sq ft per ewe, 16–20 sq ft per pair of ewe and lambs and 20–30 sq ft per ram of 180–300 lb, the class that fits most Valais rams.
Wisconsin Extension recommends a high-tensile electric fence of at least five strands, spaced about 6, 5, 5, 8 and 10 in from the ground. Check it for wool caught on the wires.
Plan shearing around your climate. The US society suggests shearing at least twice a year, every six months or so, and three to four times a year in warm and hot climates to keep the sheep cool. It also suggests shearing breeding stock at least 30 days before breeding and no closer than 30 days before lambing.12136
Feed
For sheep in general, Wisconsin Extension says the key is good forage and clean, fresh water. An operation run at a basic level can use pasture, dry hay in winter and some supplemental grain.
Needs change with the ewe's stage: Wisconsin Extension recommends better forage in the last 4–6 weeks of pregnancy, when mineral feeding is critical, and similar feeding in the 6 weeks after lambing. Ewes must have fresh water every day for the 6 weeks before lambing.13
Health
For sheep in general, Wisconsin Extension names internal parasites as one health concern, worse on pastures that get a lot of rain. Hooves may need trimming two or more times a year. New animals are the most common way disease gets into a flock, so work out a biosecurity plan with your vet before you buy.
When breeding, the New Zealand breed society suggests asking about a ewe's lambing history, worming and vaccinations before you buy.
This is a starting point, not veterinary advice. If a sheep stops eating or seems unwell, call a vet who treats sheep, or your county extension office.134
Price and where to buy
Per animal, read on 17 October 2026. Valais Iowa lists purebred ram lambs born December 2025 to April 2026 at $10,000–20,000 and ewe lambs at $25,000; its purebred wether lambs are 'call for pricing'. Honey Hoof Ranch's page, dated 2026 only by its copyright line, asks $6,000–7,000 for purebred ram lambs and $4,000 for an American Purebred ram. Ask the percentage and the registry status of any animal before you pay.
Where to look
Start with a breeder you can visit. Nobody pays to be on this list.
| Seller or directory | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Valais Blacknose Sheep Society member roster and marketplace | Breed society | US member farms that advertise with the society |
| Valais Iowa (The Cutest Sheep in the World), Iowa | Breeder | Purebred ram lambs $10,000–20,000, ewe lambs $25,000; lambs born December 2025 to April 2026 |
| Honey Hoof Ranch | Breeder | Purebred ram lambs $6,000–7,000; F1 and F2 wethers $850–1,000 |
| New Zealand Sheepbreeders Association breeders directory | Directory | For buyers in New Zealand |
History
The breed comes from the German-speaking upper part of the Valais in Switzerland, around Zermatt and the Matterhorn. It was first mentioned around 1400. The Upper Valais Sheep Breeders Association was founded in 1948, the breed was recognised in 1962 and it joined the Swiss Sheep Breeders Association in 1964.
In 2014, shortly before Switzerland stopped exports, a small number of animals went to the United Kingdom. The first lambs in New Zealand were born in 2017 from embryos imported from the UK. In 2016 the United States began importing semen for an upgrading programme, and the Valais Blacknose Sheep Society was set up in 2017 to keep the US registry.2110
Common questions
How big do Valais Blacknose sheep get?
Ewes over two years old weigh 150–200 lb. Rams weigh 175–275 lb under the US standard, and up to 130 kg (about 287 lb) in New Zealand's figures. Ewes stand about 28–31 in at the withers.32
How much does a Valais Blacknose sheep cost?
In the US, purebred lambs for breeding were listed at $6,000–25,000 on two breeder pages in 2026, with ewe lambs at the top.89
What is the difference between a purebred and a breed-up Valais Blacknose?
US breeders built their flocks by crossing ewes of other breeds to purebred Valais rams over several generations. The US society records 50–87% animals as Recorded stock, 87.5–96.7% as Registered, 96.88% and over as American Purebred, and only 100% animals as Purebred. Ask for the percentage and the registration before you buy.711
Are Valais Blacknose sheep friendly?
The New Zealand Sheepbreeders Association describes them as quiet and docile, friendly and inquisitive.2
Do Valais Blacknose sheep have horns?
Yes, both rams and ewes. Rams have thicker horns that spiral forward and down, then curl out to the side; ewes' horns are thinner and curl out to the side.32
How often do Valais Blacknose sheep need shearing?
At least twice a year, about every six months. The US society suggests three to four times a year in warm and hot climates.6
What is Valais Blacknose wool used for?
It is coarse, carpet-grade wool, around 38 microns in adults, with a long staple that grows about 12 in a year. It was traditionally spun by farming women in the Valais.2
More sheep breeds and guides
- Other breeds: Dorper, Katahdin
- Compare all 3 sheep breeds
Sources
The small numbers beside each fact point to one of these.
- Oklahoma State University, Breeds of Livestock: Valais Blacknose Sheep (archived copy).
- New Zealand Sheepbreeders Association, Valais Blacknose.
- Valais Blacknose Sheep Society (USA), Valais Blacknose Sheep Breed Standards & Judging Guidelines.
- New Zealand Valais Blacknose Sheep Society, Valais Blacknose Breeding Guidelines and Recommendations (2024).
- BreedBarn, Editorial rating, method on the editorial policy page.
- Valais Blacknose Sheep Society (USA), Suggested Shearing Schedule for Valais Blacknose Sheep.
- Valais Blacknose Sheep Society (USA), By-Laws & Policies: Upgrading Policy.
- Valais Iowa (The Cutest Sheep in the World), Polk City, Iowa, Valais Blacknose Sheep for Sale.
- Honey Hoof Ranch, Valais Sheep for Sale.
- Valais Blacknose Sheep Society (USA), Our Mission.
- Valais Blacknose Sheep Society (USA), Record Management & Registry Guide.
- UMass Extension, Housing and Working Facilities for Sheep.
- University of Wisconsin-Extension, Guide to Raising Healthy Sheep (A3858-02).
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