Swiss Valais Blacknose Sheep
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!
Latin name - Ovis aries
Class - Mammals
Order - Artiodactyla
Family - Bovidae
IUCN Status - Domesticated
Habitat - Domestic/Stony Pastures
Distribution - Valais region of Switzerland
Fun Fact
Males are usually larger than females but both produce distinct spiralling horns that form parallel to the jaws.
Keeper Notes
Our lovely valais blacknose sheep are named Tag & Hubie, two males that arrived at the zoo in early summer 2020. They soon became a firm favourite of our keepers and visitors because of their friendly, playful nature!
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