Grade Registry – Valais Blacknose Australia Ltd.

The Grade Registry allows the registration of crossbred ewes (not rams), with each generation produced using only semen from purebred Valais Blacknose Rams. 5 generations of breeding allows the registration of Australia Class (A Class) rams which are at least 96.8% Valais genetics and must be inspected for inclusion as breeding rams in the registry.

All registered animals have a registration name, number and certificate recording their parentage and breed composition.

This registry consists of a grade or appendix system which requires the use of a purebred ram to produce each new generation. This registry will always be kept separate from the Purebred registry.

The origin ewe chosen to begin the grading up process may be of any fibre producing sheep breed, though heritage longwool breeds may be more suitable to achieve the desired result more quickly. Importantly, the origin ewe should be structurally sound and correct without any appearance of genetic faults.

F1 -F5 ewes may be registered.

Only F5 rams may be registered. All F1-F4 ram lambs should be neutered and cannot be registered or used to register progeny in this registry. Below describes the production of each generation or class.

E Class – F1 ewe (50% Valais)

produced by origin ewe (other breed) x registered and DNA verified purebred Valais Blacknose ram (or A Class Ram- separate registry)

D Class – F2 ewe (75% Valais)

produced by a registered and DNA verified F1 ewe x registered and DNA verified purebred Valais Blacknose ram (or a registered and DNA verified A Class Ram- separate registry)

C Class – F3 ewe (87.5% Valais)

produced by a registered and DNA verified F2 ewe x registered and DNA verified purebred Valais Blacknose ram (or registered and DNA verified A Class Ram- separate registry)

B Class – F4 ewe (93.75% Valais)

produced by a registered and DNA verified F3 ewe x registered and DNA verified purebred Valais Blacknose ram (or registered and DNA verifiedA Class Ram- separate registry)

A Class – Australia Class -F5 ewe (96.88% Valais) is produced by an F4 ewe x registered and DNA verified purebred Valais Blacknose ram – both ewes and rams may be registered at this point and A class rams may be used for breeding in the Grade Registry using the rules above.

All Australia Class (F5) ewes and rams must be inspected by an approved inspector by the breed Society. They must meet the purebred Valais breed standards before submitting an application for registration.