Meet The Valais Blacknose, The Cutest Sheep In The World (In Our Totally Objective Opinion)

The animal world is full of exceptionally cute creatures, from the utterly adorable red pandas to the frankly ridiculous faces of quokkas, and who could resist the ears of a fennec fox? Cuteness isn’t just contained to the wildlife of Earth though – some domesticated breeds can hold their own just as well. Meet the Valais blacknose sheep. 

Where did the Valais blacknose come from?

Originally from the upper Valais region of Switzerland, these sheep were raised for their meat and their wool. There is some suggestion that the breed dates back as far as the 15th century. There have been attempts to crossbreed the sheep throughout the years to make improvements in their meat and wool quality, notably with Australian Southdown sheep; however, this was not successful. 

The population was also decimated in the 1930s and 1940s by diseases such as tuberculosis and brucellosis. Despite various challenges to the breed and different attempts at crossbreeding, in 1962 the breed was officially recognized and in 1964 they were added to the Swiss Sheep Breeding Association.

What are their characteristics?

The breed are famous for being the “cutest sheep in the world” with their signature black faces, curly fur, and black spots on their knees and ankles. While the lambs are especially sweet, adult blacknose can reach a height of 72-78 centimeters (2.3-2.5 feet) for females and 75-83 centimeters (2.4-2.7 feet) for the males. Adults can also weigh between 70 and 90 kilograms (154-198 pounds) for females and between 80 and 125 kilograms (176-176 pounds) for males.

Valais blacknose are a show breed and so have a breed standard in the same manner as a dog show. The listed characteristics include having spiraling horns, a wide deep chest, and a good spring of ribs. The Valais Blacknose Sheep Society (VBSS) was created in the US in 2017 to keep a registry of sheep in the country and to promote the breed. 

Occasionally a “spitti” is born that has its coloration reversed, or can even be white with black splotches over the body. 

Like most sheep the breed primarily eat grass, but are said to have a particular fondness for herbs. Those looking for their own blacknose might have to pay a pretty hefty price tag, with anything between £1,000 and £15,000, around $1,300 to $20,000, being suggested for a pedigree.