Farming Valais Black Nose Sheep In New Zealand

On a small lifestyle farm near the rural town of Cambridge in New Zealand, Andrew and Leigh-Anne Peake are establishing the Valais Black Nose sheep as a new breed in the country. The couple have found the journey highly enjoyable, reports Gerhard Uys.

Google ‘the cutest sheep in the world’ and you will find countless images of fluffy, black-faced sheep that look as if they belong in a toy store rather than on a farm.

This ‘cuteness factor’ was the reason Andrew and Leigh-Anne Peake, of Rose Creek Valais Black Nose in Cambridge, New Zealand, wanted to keep a few of these Swiss sheep as pets.

After exhausting efforts to import their first sheep, and the subsequent realisation that Valais Black Nose not only make great pets but are also hardy and have good meat traits, the Peakes decided to establish New Zealand’s first Valais Black Nose stud.

VALAIS BLACK NOSE

The Valais Black Nose originates in the Valais region of Switzerland. The lower valleys are dry, but considerable rain and snow fall on the mountain peaks, some of which are higher than 4 000m.

Traditionally, the sheep spend half of the year in the mountains and then come down for winter.

Known as the Walliser Schwarznasenschaf, they are mentioned in Swiss historical documents dating back to the 15th century, and some think the breed was already established in 5 000 BC.

Twice in its history, the breed nearly became extinct. On the first occasion, it nearly succumbed to disease, and on the second, government authorities tried to convince farmers to crossbreed for better meat yield.

The breed is renowned for its charming looks and friendly temperament. According to LeighAnne, the sheep enjoy interacting with humans, and thus make excellent pets. Demand from the US is particularly high.

“[Apparently], when people hike in the Valais area in Switzerland, flocks of sheep follow them for kilometres,” she says.

THE BEGINNING