How It Works
Reserving Your Sheep
A simple, personal process for bringing a Valais Blacknose from our flock into yours.
Ours is a small, boutique flock, and each sheep is raised by hand and placed with intention. Reserving lets us match the right animal to the right home — and gives you time to prepare for their arrival.
Because availability is limited and demand is high, the sheep we offer are often reserved before they're ready to leave the farm. The process below walks you through how it works — start to finish.
Breeding Up
Understanding the Generations
Outside Switzerland, Valais Blacknose are established by breeding up — crossing a foundation ewe to a fullblood (100%) Valais Blacknose ram, then breeding each daughter back to a fullblood ram again. With every generation the percentage climbs toward 100%, and the lambs grow ever more true to type.
Fullblood — fully Valais Blacknose genetics. The foundation of any breeding-up program.
A foundation ewe crossed to a fullblood Valais Blacknose ram.
An F1 ewe bred back to a fullblood ram.
Markings and fleece grow noticeably truer to type.
Often nearly indistinguishable from fullblood at a glance.
High-percentage stock, prized for serious breeding programs.
At each step the ewe is bred back to a fullblood ram, so a fullblood Valais Blacknose ram is essential to climb the ladder. Registry designations vary by association — but higher percentages, with correct conformation and markings, are always the most sought after.
Finding Your Match
Pet Quality vs. Breeding Stock
Pet & Companion Quality
Placed as pets, fiber companions, and gentle pasture keepers rather than for breeding. These are often wethers — castrated males — who make wonderfully easygoing, affectionate companions.
They may carry minor marking variances that don't affect their health or charm, and are typically more affordable — a lovely way to enjoy the breed.
Breeding Stock
Selected for correct conformation, markings, fleece, and registrable lineage — chosen to improve the breed and carry a breeding-up program forward.
Intact rams and quality ewes, placed with keepers prepared to manage them, and priced according to percentage, quality, and bloodline.
Before You Reserve
Qualifying to Bring Sheep Home
Valais Blacknose are gentle and hardy, but they are still livestock with real needs. Before placing sheep, we want to know they're headed to a safe, well-prepared home. Here's what we look for.
Secure Fencing & Predator Control
Sturdy, well-maintained fencing that keeps sheep safely in and predators out, plus a real plan against coyotes and loose dogs — livestock guardian dogs, guard llamas or donkeys, hot-wire, or a combination.
Shelter & Clean Water
At minimum a three-sided shelter or barn for shade, wind, and protection from wet weather, plus reliable, year-round access to fresh, clean water. In northern climates this may mean heated hoses and heated buckets to keep water from freezing. If you plan to breed, you'll also need safe, warm accommodations for lambing and young lambs.
A Companion Flock
Sheep are flock animals and are never placed alone. We ask for a minimum of three, though eight or more is ideal for a settled, happy flock.
Enough Land, Legally Zoned
Acreage and pasture sufficient to support your flock without overgrazing — on property that is zoned and legally permitted to keep livestock.
Routine Care & Nutrition
Hoof trimming, shearing twice a year, parasite management, and a livestock-savvy vet — plus good hay or pasture with sheep-specific minerals.
Financial Readiness
The means to comfortably afford ongoing care — quality feed and minerals, shearing twice a year, hoof trimming, parasite control, and veterinary bills, including the occasional emergency.
Explore Who's Available
Start with our flock. Available and upcoming sheep are listed under The Flock — from pasture companions and fiber sheep to breeding-quality stock. Each listing notes sex, generation, and status as it becomes available.
Reach Out
Tell us a little about your goals — a small flock of friendly companions, a fiber flock, or a breeding-up program of your own. We'll help match you with the right animals and answer any questions about temperament, lineage, and care.
Reserve Through Northlight
All reservations are handled securely through Northlight, our livestock platform. Your reservation, agreement, and deposit are completed there, where you'll also find the full terms. Once confirmed, your sheep is held for you.
Stay Connected
Between reservation and pickup, we keep you in the loop with photos and updates as your sheep grows. Lambs stay with us until they're fully weaned and ready to thrive in their new home.
Bringing Them Home
When the time comes, pickup is by appointment at the farm in Oregon's Hood River Valley. We're glad to talk through transport options and send you home with guidance on settling your new flock in.
Secure & Simple
We handle transactions through Northlight
We've moved all of our reservations and sales to Northlight, a dedicated livestock platform. It keeps everything in one place — listings, reservation agreements, deposits, and payments — so the process is secure, transparent, and easy to follow.
When you're ready to reserve, you'll complete your agreement and deposit directly through Northlight, where the full terms are always available for your review.
Ready to begin?
Browse who's currently available, or reach out and we'll help you find the right Valais Blacknose for your flock.