Genetics

Valais Blacknose New Zealand is very proud to be associated with the top two flocks in the United Kingdom and we are working with a third to expand our genetics.

Our first import of embryos have been from two rams and three ewes from Valais Blacknose Sheep Scotland

And another two rams and four ewes from Valais Blacknose Sheep Northumberland

Our Scottish rams were Highland Basil and Gemstones Bernard (latter courtesy of Whitehall Valais Blacknose Sheep Scotland

And we are delighted to say two of our lambs are out of Highland Breeze, the Supreme champion Valais Blacknose sheep two years in succession at the UK National Show in Carlisle, England. Highland Breeze has produced a ram and ewe lamb for our foundation flock sired by Gemstones Bernard.

Our donor ewes from Scotland also have very strong top genetics, representing Highland King Kong who was imported from Switzerland – a leading sire in the UK selling last year for 15,000 pounds. Highland Lucus (Imported, son of Hulk) is also represented in the dam line. Embryos due out early in 2018 to New Zealand will be from two new rams (Highland Commander and Highland Dougie) and four new donor dams (Highland Biscuit, Highland Dolly, Highland Bethen and Highland Betty).

Our genetics from Valais Blacknose sheep Northumberland are equally impressive, with sires Prendwick Eros and Prendwick Basil producing some stunning lambs for us. Prendwick Eros himself has done well at the National shows but his son Westmorland Dancer has taken out the Champion ram class in both National Shows for Valais Blacknose Westmorland

The donor ewes Prendwick Dancer, Bonnie, Beatrice and Damson represent a number of other top Swiss import rams.

Highland Breeze at Aug 17 Carlsile Nat Show — Highland Breeze at the August 2017 Carlisle National Show where she took out Supreme Champion (and again in 2018)

EXPORTING TO USA & CANADA

***PRESS RELEASE***

The cutest sheep in the world are breaking new ground again!
Following the first export of semen to Canada and the USA last year from Valais Blacknose New Zealand (a partnership between Lindsay and Sally Strathdee near Motueka, and Christine Reed in South Wairarapa). Today the first purebred embryos are winging their way to the Northern Hemisphere. The first export of sheep embryos to the United States from a New Zealand flock in over 25 years will be exported by this leading entreprenual partnership.
“We believe the opening up of this new market provides exciting opportunities for the wider New Zealand sheep industry, especially given our current competitive advantage in managing the impacts of covid 19 on our ability to produce and trade agricultural products” said Lindsay Strathdee, spokesperson for the Valais Blacknose NZ partnership.
It has involved a long series of negotiations over almost three years between New Zealand’s Ministry of Primary Industries and the United States Department of Agriculture to agree export conditions that would work for both countries, while managing any potential biosecurity risks.
It has also meant a huge effort over a number of years by veterinarians and breeders in North America. The embryos will be imported by Dr Matthew Rolleston of Rolleston Veterinary Services in Maine, USA. They will be implanted through Rachel Weiss of Applied Reproductive Concepts, LLC, along with Reni McNabb of The Valais Blacknose Sheep Association of North America who have a large Society membership offering advice, support, animal registration, breed standards and regular Zoom meetings with breeders and prospective clients, to maintain interest.
Valais Blacknose New Zealand in conjunction with Reni and Kevin Melvin of Elite Sheep Reproduction, LLC will be selling the first purebred lambs from New Zealand embryos in March 2021.
“We have a philosophy of importing embryos from only best prize winning flocks in the United Kingdom, which maintain only the very best genetics for our North American clients” said Lindsay Strathdee.
Currently the world’s cutest sheep enjoys has 18,000 Valais Blacknose New Zealand Facebook followers in NZ, North America and throughout the world and growing.
The cutest sheep in the world are about to become North America’s cutest sheep

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