We’re the cutest… baa none! The little lambs who sell at £10,000 each because of their unusual markings and fluffy fleece
- Valais Blacknose lambs, born at Halsbury Barton in Devon, are in high demand
- Can sell for up to £10,000 each – around 40 times the value of an ordinary lamb
- Chris Slee and Tom Hooper have been breeding them since 2016
Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow – apart from all the bits that were black…
These Valais Blacknose lambs, born at Halsbury Barton in Devon, are in high demand because of their unusual appearance, not just for their delightfully fluffy fleeces but to be kept as family pets as well.
They can sell for up to a whopping £10,000 each – around 40 times the value of an ordinary lamb.
These Valais Blacknose lambs, born at Halsbury Barton in Devon, are in high demand because of their unusual appearance, not just for their delightfully fluffy fleeces but to be kept as family pets as well
Chris Slee and Tom Hooper have been breeding Valais Blacknose sheep at Halsbury Barton since 2016 when they invested in some embryos from Scotland.
The Valais Blacknose Society UK says: ‘The Blacknose originates from Valais in Switzerland. It is well adapted to the harsh conditions of the mountains.
‘There is evidence the Blacknose has existed since the 15th century, however they have changed greatly in appearance over the years.’
As their name suggests, they have black patches on their noses, eyes, ears, knees and feet.
They can sell for up to a whopping £10,000 each – around 40 times the value of an ordinary lamb
Chris Slee and Tom Hooper have been breeding Valais Blacknose sheep at Halsbury Barton since 2016 when they invested in some embryos from Scotland
Increasingly popular as family pets, the creatures are said to be calm and docile, although they can reach a weight of 275lb.
Buyers will pay up to £11,000 for a top-notch specimen whereas typical sheep can be bought for under £100.
But farmers will pay significantly more for the world’s most expensive breed, the Texel. Last year, a Texel lamb broke the record for the most money paid for a sheep after being sold for almost £368,000 in Scotland.