“The Scottish Blackface, of course, adds genetics for black faces and black limbs, as well as horns in both sexes, mountain hardiness, Roman noses, and plenty of fleece. “After deciding on the genetics we wanted, we imported embryos and semen into New Zealand.”. Valais Blacknose sheep originated in Switzerland and just recently were allowed into the US. Nonetheless, we went ahead and acquired suitable foundation ewe lambs in early 2015, hoping that by the time the lambs were mature that semen would become available.

VBS/Scottish Blackface F-1 Ram SOLD. Valais Blacknose sheep are known for their stuffed toy appearance and gentle dispositions. 7325396874, Your email address will not be published.

The female has a black bottom. . Please contact us! Laurel Highland Farm, in Cogan Station, Pennsylvania, was expecting its first 50 percent Valais crossbred lambs to be born in April. We were thrilled to be one of the first breeders to import Valais Blacknose Sheep genetics into the USA in 2017! Tel +1 (570) 320-0254 We ended up with 11 lambs from 5 ewes. Valais Blacknose sheep are known for their stuffed toy appearance and gentle dispositions. “In the meantime, we will continue with our breeding-up program as it could still be a while before any rule change and import paperwork is in order. The following represent our current available breeding stock. The rest of their coat is white with a thick coarse carpet-type wool whose micron count is about 30. Alexander Is the Sire of Our F1 lambs. Cologne, NJ 08213, USA (609) 703-8408 njvalais@gmail.com. VBS/Teeswater F-1 Yearling Ram $1500 . Valais Blacknose Sheep spend summers grazing high on their native alpine pastures, in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. USDA still does not allow importation of embryos or live sheep, so "breeding-up" is the ONLY legal way to have this breed here in the USA right now. It all began a few years back when I saw this picture online. “Theoretically, the more genes that the foundation ewes share in common with the purebred Valais Blacknose, the fewer generations will be required for the offspring to look like the real deal.”. Below, is a video of the Momentous Day. Martin Dally operates Super Sire Ltd., which offers genetics for the sheep industry. The wool should cover the whole body and legs evenly. The breed is generally referred to as Walliser Schwarznasen in Switzerland.

Each generation at Laurel Highland Farm will be bred to pure Valais Blacknose semen.

Pennsylvania Laurel Highland Farm’s foundation ewes are either purebred Scottish Blackface, or half-bred Scottish Blackface/Leicester Longwool F1 crosses. Contact Us; News; Members. “In 2016 we met with breeders in the U.K. and attended Valais sheep shows throughout the country. Located in Idaho in the Pacific Northwest, we breed our Scottish Blackface Sheep with Valais Blacknose Sheep Semen. As luck would have it, the ban on semen import was lifted in 2016. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has proposed removing BSE-related import restrictions on sheep and goats and most of their products. “Currently the USDA does not allow importation of embryos or live sheep, so ‘breeding-up’ is the only legal way to have this breed here in the U.S. right now,” Mary Jean says. We are participating in the breed up program which takes about 4 generations. With lots of Prayers, I prepared my ewes for insemination. Retired New Zealand veterinarian Dave Barton says the attraction of the breed is its adorable look and friendly nature. “These will most likely be available as wethers only, as we need to retain ewe lambs for our F2 generation,” Gould-Earley says. Valais Blacknose Sheep - USA, Cogan Station, Pennsylvania. “They have been described as the cutest sheep in the world, so we expect initial interest—both here and in the U.S.—to be about their looks long before their production characteristics.”. Please join our mailing list to keep up with “Everything Valais”. Email: valais.blacknose@laurelhighland.com, © 2019 Laurel Highland Farm & Equine Services, LLC A Valais Blacknose Sheep's spiraled horn . We were truly blessed. I instantly fell in love.

Gould-Earley says she spoke with a vet at USDA and was told the rule change is a priority for them. Valais Blacknose sheep originated in Switzerland and just recently were allowed into the US.

Baa Ram Ewe Farms provides Valais Blacknose Sheep Semen for the United States and Canada Valais Blacknose Sheep Breed-Up program. All of our rams are from Noblesse Davidoff genetic stock, and can be wethered upon request of purchaser. Not only are they adorable but sweet natured as well. The local newspaper had a front-page story and Barton said there was a lot of interest.

That was the reaction when the sheep made their first public appearance at an agriculture show in February. Hours. I was like, “What? “We also imported about 200 straws of Valais semen which we will use to impregnate the ewe lambs when they reach reproductive age,” Barton says. . “We specifically chose the latter cross as we felt they may have more in common with purebred Valais Blacknose, with the Leicester Longwool genes adding a larger frame, longer fleece, wool forelocks, wool on limbs, more docile temperament,” Gould-Earley says.

I was extremely bummed and put the idea of owning one as a pipe dream. The meat is low in fat and the sheep are easy lambing. The canton of Valais is best known as the location of the Matterhorn, one of the highest peaks in Europe. At two years of age the females stand about 31 inches and their weight is 154 to 198 pounds. The rest is history. (Keep scrolling . You can be part of this historical event by purchasing one of our 7 F1 (first generation 50:50) wethers as a pet. Home: Banner. “They are the most amazing breed, quiet, gentle and very loving. Required fields are marked *.

I immediately began searching and discovered the Valais Blacknose Sheep Association of North America.

© 2020, Countryside - All Rights Reserved, Extract Natural Dye for Wool from Goldenrod Plants, Why Teach Classes on How to Knit, Spin, Weave or Felt, Countryside Machinery on the Homestead e-edition Flip Book. I put my order in for my first straws from Maximum Point Ram Strathaden Alexander. They should have a large, robust frame and have helical/spiral horns on both sexes. The second annual “Blacknose Beauties” show in Carlisle, England, last year saw a top price of £7,810 (US$10,936) for the reserve overall champion and male champion—a four-month-old lamb.

The syndicate worked with Steve Jones and Richard Pilkington from Denbighshire to bring in embryos and semen and paid £5,390 (US$7,532) for an outstanding young ram that had previously been selected for semen collection for New Zealand. The males stand 33 inches and weigh 176 to 275 pounds. Flock of Valais Blacknose sheep coming down from the Swiss Valais Mountains. Laurel Highland Farm owners Mary Jean Gould-Earley and husband Edward T. Earley, a veterinarian, in 2016 became one of the first to import Valais Blacknose sheep purebred genetics into the U.S. in the form of frozen semen from Highland Valais Blacknose Sheep Scotland. However, I knew that I wanted this lamb. “Breeding-up may continue after that as well anyway, given the high cost of importing live sheep and embryos with current extremely high demand and a very limited supply likely to continue well into the foreseeable future.”. They have a friendly nature and are easily tamed and lead-trained. Originally published in the May/June 2018  issue of sheep!. The success rate of AI in Sheep is about 60%. I began to research the breed and was extremely disappointed to find that they were not allowed into the US.

The native Swiss society, called Oberwalliser Schwarznasenzuchtverband, (translated, “Upper Valais Blacknose Breeding Association”), was founded in 1948 and reports a reproductive rate of 1.6 lambs a year. These genetics came in the form of purebred ram frozen semen, to begin our long-awaited breeding-up program!

Laurel Highland Farm, in Cogan Station, Pennsylvania, was expecting its first 50 percent Valais crossbred lambs to be born in April.

Because of Prayers and a skilled AI Specialist, we had a success rate of 100%.

Valais Blacknose Sheep in the USA! They used Teeswater and Gotland ewes for the project. Current Valais Blacknose Sheep for Sale. “Our lambs were born in one of the wettest winters we have had in our area, but with our amazing midwives on hand at every birth, our lambs thrived,” breeder Robyn How says. You can be part of this historical event by purchasing one of our 7 F1 (first generation 50:50) wethers as a pet.

The little-known Valais sheep date back to at least the 15th Century in the Valais Mountain region in southwestern Switzerland. “Our foundation ewes were successfully bred in late 2017, via laparoscopic artificial insemination and we are expecting our first lamb crop this spring. By their own admission, they became obsessed with the breed. The Masters of Cuteness are HERE!

“We had a very good site and had lots of people there most of the day,” he says. Can you help me please? Find out the latest news. “At first it seemed impossible, as there was also a ban on semen import at the time.

The staple length of the wool is about four inches after five to six months’ growth and the sheep are shorn twice a year.

By the breed standard, the tails are docked to the top of the hocks. Oregon producers Martin and Joy Dally notified us in March that their first Valais Blacknose cross lambs had been born at their farm. New Zealand growers, eyeing the U.S. market, had a head start because they could import or breed embryos, while the U.S. doesn’t currently allow European sheep embryos to enter the country.