The Swiss Valais Blacknose embryos, created at the University of Bern in Switzerland, is the first new breed of sheep to be successfully cloned from frozen cell material. This breakthrough could be an exciting prospect for sheep farmers around the world.
The Swiss Valais Blacknose is a hardy breed with a unique black and white face pattern and characteristic horns. Developed in Switzerland’s alpine region, this breed is well adapted to cold climates. Its thick wool makes it ideal for survival in wet and cold conditions, while its strong legs make it suitable for mountainous terrain.
When a female Swiss Valais Blacknose was cloned using cell material taken from her body after she had died at age 10, researchers were thrilled by their success in creating the first-ever embryo of this breed. The resulting lamb was born healthy on February 3rd 2021 — an exciting milestone in cloning technology which could have implications far beyond just one sheep species.
