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.[3]: 281
 | |
| Conservation status | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Walliser Schwarznasenschaf |
| Country of origin | Switzerland |
| Distribution |
|
| Standard | Schweizerischer Schafzuchtverband |
| Use | dual-purpose, meat and wool |
| Traits | |
| Weight |
|
| Height |
|
| Wool colour | white |
| Face colour | black |
| Horn status | horned in both sexes |
| |
History edit
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 with Bergamasca and Cotswold stock,[4]: 940 and in the twentieth century with the Southdown.[3]: 280
The Valais Blacknose is also present in Austria, Germany and Holland.[5] The total population reported in Switzerland for 2023 was 10286–19732, with 9380 ewes registered in the herd-book; the conservation status of the breed is listed as 'not at risk'.[2]
Characteristics edit
The Schwarznasenschaf is a mountain breed, well adapted to grazing on the stony pastures of its area of origin.[4]: 940 Both rams and ewes are horned,[4]: 940 with helical or spiral-shaped horns. Ewes may have black spots on the tail, but rams may not.[6]: 50
Use edit
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 (4 in) or more.[4]: 940 The annual yield of wool is about 4 kg (10 lb) per head.[3]: 281
References edit
- ^ Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
- ^ a b c Breed data sheet: Walliser Schwarznasenschaf / Switzerland (Sheep). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed April 2024.
- ^ 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, pages 280–281.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Transboundary breed: Valais Blacknose. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed April 2024.
- ^ Tiergenetische Ressourcen der Schweizer Landwirtschaft (in German). Bern: Bundesamt für Landwirtschaft. Accessed April 2024.
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