Purebred Breeding Program

What Qualifies as Purebred

A purebred Valais Blacknose Sheep is an animal with a fully DNA-verified pedigree tracing back to genetics imported into Australia, or to registered purebred Valais Blacknose animals held in recognised international registration systems. VBA recognises the pedigree of any Valais Blacknose Sheep that has been DNA verified through VBA. If your animals have been verified through another registry, please reach out to us directly. We are happy to work with you one-on-one to explore the options available for recognition within VBA.

Imported purebred animals with verified purebred pedigree information are recorded and DNA typed on arrival in Australia as part of their Australian registration.

Methods of Breeding

Purebred animals may be produced through any of the following methods, provided all parentage requirements are met:

Natural service — a registered purebred ewe mated with a registered purebred ram.

Artificial insemination (AI) — semen from a registered purebred ram used to inseminate a registered purebred ewe. The ram's name, registration number, and date of service must be stated on the certificate of service, verified by the technician who performed the procedure.

Embryo transfer (ET) — embryos produced from a registered purebred dam and a registered purebred sire, implanted into a recipient ewe. Verification of embryo production and implantation records must be provided when registering lambs produced in this way. Rams and ewes that have donated material for embryo and semen production must have samples submitted for DNA testing.

Sire Requirements

Only a registered purebred Valais Blacknose ram may sire registered purebred offspring. The ram must be registered with VBA or with a recognised international registry. A certificate of service must be supplied when registering progeny from a ram not owned by the breeder of those progeny.

DNA and Registration Requirements

All animals in the Purebred Program must be DNA typed, with parentage verified for progeny, sire, and dam. Applications for registration must include a suitable Allflex TSU tissue sample and will remain pending until DNA proof of identity is confirmed. DNA typing is arranged through VBA, and the cost is included in the registration fee.

All animals must carry a unique individual identification number via an ear tag that complies with current Australian NLIS requirements. The breeder must supply their Property Identification Code (PIC) to VBA for the recording of ownership and pedigree.

There is no age limit for registration; however, animals registered after 12 months of age incur a higher fee.

Breed Standard Compliance

All purebred rams must conform to the VBA Breed Standard before an application for registration is submitted. A video must be supplied at the time of registration to demonstrate that the animal meets the breed standard. The Board reserves the right to request further information or to arrange an animal inspection. Rams must be free of structural or disqualifying faults. VBA retains the right to inspect any registered animal after adequate notification is given to the current owner.

The breed standard covers three areas: general appearance (including all black markings), conformation (including limbs, gait, and body structure), and wool (including fleece quality, staple length, and the absence of undesirable fibre types such as kemp). Please refer to the VBA Breed Standard for full details.

Who May Register Lambs

Only the current registered owner of the ewe at the time of lambing may register the resulting lambs, and those lambs will carry that breeder's registered stud prefix. In the case of embryo transfer, the owner of the embryo is deemed the breeder of the lamb, and proof of embryo ownership must be provided. If you encounter any difficulties registering animals you have bred or own, please reach out to VBA by email. We are committed to working with members individually to find a path forward wherever possible.

Registration Certificates

Registered purebred Valais Blacknose Sheep receive a WHITE registration certificate, with pedigree and registration number. Imported registered purebred animals held in recognised international registration systems are given an Australian registration matching their international name and registration number, also on WHITE certificates.

Registration Fees

De-Registration

De-registration of animals, and of their progeny, may occur if an animal is found to have disqualifying faults or if factual discrepancies are identified in the original registration. If you have concerns about a registered animal, a written submission must be presented to the VBA Board stating the owner, the animal's registration details, and the nature of the disqualifying fault or concern. An inspection will then be arranged with a designated inspector, and VBA will act on the findings.