Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deal with GRADING sheep vs. SHOWING sheep?
GRADING  evaluates the individual sheep against the breed standard.  Grading is anonymous - the sheep are assigned a number & tagged, and no breeder/owner handles their own sheep during grading.  Grading is done before the show. 

SHOWING sheep is comparing sheep in the show ring on that particular day and placing the animals in order of their being closest to the breed standard.  The breeder/owner will often handle or show their own sheep.

What is GRADING?  Only purebreds are eligible for grading.  Each individual purebred is graded against the breed standard.  The purebred is scored on three categories - appearance (overall structure & proportion, markings), conformation (legs & gait), and wool.  The scoring scale changes depending upon the age of the purebred.  The goal is three 4s (4/4/4) for age 4-12 months, three 5s (5/5/5) for age 12-24 months, three 6s (6/6/6) for age 24-36 months.  Rams or ewes over 36 months of age are no longer eligible for grading.  Upon grading, if the quality of the sheep receives the maximum points, this is referred to as “Maximum Points”.  If one point was deducted, this is referred to as “-1”; if two points were deducted, this is referred to as “-2”, and so on.  A sheep may only be graded one time per year.  A sheep may be graded for three consecutive years.  As an animal matures and changes, a grading score at 12-24 months (5/5/5) and then 24-36 months (6/6/6) is more highly regarded than the grading of a lamb at 4-12 months (4/4/4).

Why should I have my purebreds graded?
Think of it as a “Good Housekeeping seal of approval”…in other words, an expert has evaluated and verified the quality.  In this case, the sheep has been evaluated by a Swiss-trained grader.

Why does it matter?
As more sheep are graded, the option of choosing graded animals for ram semen and live animals will become a straightforward choice to ensure quality.  If a breeder or buyer is not 100% confident in their ability to judge quality, or simply wants confirmation of quality, the grading score serves as a trusted measure of quality.  Breeders or buyers will seek graded sheep or ram’s semen for purchase, confident of what they are getting.

What does it mean for the future?
Ultimately, this will improve the quality of Valais Blacknose sheep, as breeders can choose graded ram semen, rams, and ewes.  In the future, as in other countries, different tiers of Valais Blacknose sheep quality will be recognized and buyers will pay accordingly. 

We accept cash, credit/debit cards, and electronic payments like Apple Pay and Venmo

Gestation is approximately 5 months,  and using AI or embryo transfer or live breeding can take an additional one to two months.