Swiss Valais Blacknose Sheep
| Latin Name | Ovis aries |
|---|---|
| Class | Mammals |
| Order | Artiodactyla |
| Family | Bovidae |
| IUCN Status | Domesticated |
| Habitat | Domestic/Stony Pastures |
| Distribution | Valais region of Switzerland |
General Information
This robust and docile breed are predominantly bred for their meat and wool. Their soft white fleece grows approximately 30cm per year and is used to make a variety of products including carpets, mattress stuffing and felting. A single Valais sheep can produce 4 kilos of wool a year!
Males are usually larger than females but both produce distinct spiraling horns that form parallel to the jaws.
Keeper Notes
Our lovely valais blacknose sheep are named Mac and Tosh, they are both male and arrived at the zoo when they were 8 weeks old in spring 2019. They soon became a firm favorite of our keepers and visitors because of their friendly, playful nature!