A Breed Worth Protecting

If you've spent any time in the Valais Blacknose community online, you've probably seen the debates. Which foundation breed is best? Horned or polled? How should they be trimmed for a show? And perhaps most contentiously — does it really matter if an F3 ram is used for breeding instead of waiting for the right generation?

We think it matters enormously. And we want to explain why — and to share where Humming Hills Farm stands on all of it.

The Valais Blacknose has been mountain-adapted over centuries in the Upper Valais region of Switzerland, bred for hardiness, temperament, productivity, and those unmistakable markings. The earliest historical mention of the breed dates back to the 15th century, and they weren't formally recognized by the Swiss Sheep Breeding Association until 1962. That's hundreds of years of careful, purposeful breeding that produced the animal the world has fallen in love with. We owe it to that legacy to do this right.

Understanding the Breed-Up Process

Because live Valais Blacknose sheep cannot be imported into the United States, the path to establishing the breed here runs through a structured breed-up program — using purebred genetics imported from the UK and New Zealand to progressively increase Valais Blacknose genetics over multiple generations. For many years, purebred semen for artificial insemination was the only option available to North American breeders. Within the past few years, however, we've gained the ability to import frozen embryos from the UK and New Zealand as well — a genuinely exciting development that can accelerate the process significantly.

Frozen embryos, when transferred into a recipient ewe, produce a lamb that is fully purebred rather than a breed-up generation. That's a remarkable leap forward. The tradeoff is cost and risk — embryo importation and transfer is expensive, and there are no guarantees a transfer will result in a live lamb. For that reason, it remains out of reach for many smaller operations, including ours at this time. But it's a tool that is changing the landscape for breeders who are able to pursue it, and it's one more reason the community needs strong standards — so that however a purebred animal arrives here, its genetics are verified and trustworthy.

Each breed-up generation, when a ewe is bred to a purebred Valais Blacknose sire, the resulting lamb carries a higher percentage of the desired genetics:

Most animal geneticists recognize an animal at 96.88% as a purebred — which is why F5 is the threshold for "Domestic Purebred" status under VBSANA guidelines.

The Shortcuts That Concern Us

With the community growing rapidly online, we've seen a range of practices that worry us. Some stem from well-meaning breeders trying to move faster. Others may simply reflect a lack of awareness about why the guidelines exist. Either way, we feel it's important to name them.

Using Crossbred Rams for Breeding

An F3 ram might look stunning — excellent markings, great conformation, long wool. It's tempting. But using any F1 through F4 ram for breeding introduces compounding genetic uncertainty that undermines the entire progression. VBSANA is explicit: all breed-up rams from F1 through F4 must be castrated and wethered. Their offspring cannot be included in the registry. This isn't bureaucratic gatekeeping — it's the foundation of a sound, traceable breeding program. When we see F3 rams being put to F1 ewes, we're looking at offspring whose genetics can't be properly verified or advanced.

Spitti Rams

A Spitti is a rare Valais Blacknose sheep that has almost reverse coloring with more predominately black coloring instead of the white with black. In Switzerland, they are considered good luck. Not to be confused with "mismarked" Valais Blacknose, a Spitti is a result of a genetic variation and not from crossbreeding. Spitti rams should be castrated. A true Spitti will be a registered purebred from purebred parents and have at least 60% black coverage. VBSANA takes a firm stance: Spitti rams will not be registered, and any offspring produced by Spitti sires cannot be included in the Registered Stock database. The concern is genetic dilution and phenotypic inconsistency — traits that move the animal further from, not closer to, the true Valais standard. As exciting as it might be to lamb a Spitti, we will never breed for the hopes of creating more Spitti Valais.

The Horned vs. Polled Debate

True Valais Blacknose sheep are horned — both ewes and rams carry large, distinctive helical or spiral-shaped horns. This is a defining characteristic of the breed standard. VBSANA acknowledges that scurs may appear as a practical reality when polled foundation breeds are used, but the standard is clear: properly formed, balanced helical horns are correct and expected. We began our program with horned Dorset ewes specifically to stay as aligned as possible with the breed's physical characteristics from the very start.

Trimming and Presentation

The Valais Blacknose is known for its long, flowing wool — those gorgeous, shaggy locks that define the breed's look. Fitted trimming hides what makes these animals so special. Show standards should celebrate the Valais Blacknose for exactly what it is. We choose to let our sheep be what they are.

Our Journey at Humming Hills Farm

Why It Matters — And What You Can Do

The Valais Blacknose breed in North America is still young. The decisions made now will define the genetic foundation of every animal descended from our flocks. VBSANA exists to support breeders in maintaining that standard — their registry, DNA verification requirements, and breed-up policies exist so that a Valais Blacknose certificate in North America actually means something. We encourage every breeder to engage with VBSANA, register their animals, and use their resources.

At Humming Hills Farm, our commitment is simple: follow the Swiss standard as closely as we can, use only purebred genetics and verified processes, and take the long view. It is slower. It is more expensive. And we believe it is absolutely worth it.

We welcome visitors to come meet our sheep and our Kune Kune pigs in person — there is nothing quite like seeing these animals up close. If you're interested in visiting or following our journey to F5, we'd love to hear from you.

Thank you for caring about this breed as much as we do.