From the Swiss Alps to the Ox Mountains

Our Ox Mountain hills are small compared to the Swiss Alps but believe it or not, there is a connection. On a small farm near the village of Bonniconlon, Melisssa and Partick Walsh keep a flock of unusual sheep that have their origins in the alpine valleys of Switzerland.

The Valais Blacknose is one of the most prized sheep breeds. After being highlighted on BBC’s Countryfile in 2012, they immediately caught the public’s attention due to their cute appearance. The internet was taken by storm, as most people could not believe that these animals were real. They soon became a great favourite with livestock keepers.

Melissa Walsh, from Bonniconlon, was an early devotee. Melissa explains the background as to how their particular Valais Blacknose flock arrived in Mayo in 2019. 

“We were looking to get a small number of sheep for grass management alongside our small suckler herd. 

"I first knew of these sheep when I visited Visp in Switzerland on a business trip in 2013 and although it felt a little far-fetched, I just knew they would be a great adventure to bring to Co Mayo.” 

History of the Valais Blacknose 

The Valais Blacknose sheep originate in the Valais region of Switzerland. They are a dual-purpose breed, raised for meat and wool. They are unique to the Upper Valais and are well adapted to the harsh mountain conditions there, being extremely hardy and frugal. The black on its nose, eyes, ears, knees, hocks and feet and otherwise light woolly coats make them quite unmistakable. They have large spiral-shaped horns. They are good at grazing steep, rocky slopes.

While the earliest mention of the breed dates to 1400AD, they were only first recognised as a separate breed in 1962. The breed was exclusively raised in Switzerland until imported to Britain and Ireland in 2013 by several interested breeders. The Valais Blacknose Sheep of Cheshire is a leading group in promoting and providing information about the breed. Here is what they say:

Proof against harsh environment, the Blacknose sheep more than once became endangered by human activity. In 1884, trying to improve upon the wool and meat output, the authorities of Valais decided to start a programme of crossing the breed with Australian Southdown sheep. Luckily for the native race, the descendants proved to be less adaptable to the climate, their wool much harder to spin, their meat less desirable due to high-fat content.

Long history and tradition are one thing, but the Valais Blacknose sheep are special for other reasons, too. Their small black faces combined with soft white fleece earned them the reputation of ‘Cutest Sheep in the World’, with many doubting on first seeing them whether they’re actually real and not woollen mascots. Accustomed to harsh mountain environment, the sheep are strong and easily adaptable animals.

Bonniconlon Valais Blacknose 

There has been a Walsh family farm on the same site in Bonniconlon since the 1800s. At present, this farming tradition is in the hands of Patrick and Melissa. Now, a diverse farm, it has evolved over the years from a herd of dairy cows to grass-fed suckler beef and now of course, their beloved sheep.

After seeing these beautiful sheep by chance during a business trip to Visp in Switzerland back in 2013, Melissa never dreamed she would one day have a breeding flock of her very own back home on Irish soil.

Further to that, the Irish Valais Blacknose Sheep Society was established in 2021 by Melissa Walsh and a group of like-minded Valais Irish breeders. The society has created what is known as a flock book. The purpose of this book is to hold their pedigree breeding, to promote the breed in Ireland and to strive for continued development of the breed standard within our country.

The Wisdom of Sheep 

 In her 2023 book, The Wisdom of Sheep and Other Animals, Rosamund Young dispels the notion that sheep are stupid. Young has been an organic farmer for over forty years and in in her record of life on her farm, she recounts stories of joy, discovery, cooperation and sometimes heartbreak.

We talk about people behaving like sheep, which assumes that sheep all behave in the same way. That has not been my experience. Some are affectionate, others prone to head-butting. Some are determinedly self-sufficient, others seek our help when they need it. And some can be trusted to lead the flock home. They are as individual as we are. Farm animals are familiar to us from childhood stories, but little did we know that their inner lives are full of complexity, deep bonds and family dramas.

I have had the pleasure of meeting some of these adorable Valais Blacknose up close and personal at the annual Cloonacool Sheep festival. As sheep go, they do indeed seem “full of complexity”. They have a quiet, understated personality. I think it must be that fluffy bit of wool, that hangs over their eyes, that makes them so hard to read. It seems with most breeds of sheep, you know what they are thinking or what they might do next if they got the chance. The Valais Blacknose, however, keep you in suspense; you never know what they are thinking. It can be difficult to believe at times if there is a real sheep in there at all.

Christmas experience 

Not a person to rest on her laurels, Melissa Walsh is always looking for new ways to display her blacknose flock. As winter deepens and 2024 draws to a close, her latest plans promise to bring brightness and joy. 

“Currently, we are in the middle of building a brand-new shed for our sheep and it is now ready for our Christmas event. My plans are to deck the shed out in a Christmas theme and open it up for a special Valais Experience. 

“We’ll have a limited number of places for people to come for a close encounter with our Valais Blacknose ewes and lambs. Visitors will be able to join them in their ’Cuddle Cabin’ to sit with them, feed them, take selfies with them, pet them, and of course, cuddle them. 

"It is a booking-only event to ensure the experience is a one-on-one encounter and not to overwhelm our lambs, which will be very young at that time.” 

To experience this Valais Blacknose Christmas opportunity, book online at the following link, https://www.bon niconlonvalaisblacknose.com/bookonline. The event takes place on this Saturday, December 14th.