1. Membership

1.1 Eligibility

Membership of the Valais Blacknose Society is open to all owners of Valais Blacknose sheep.

Membership is also open to individuals who do not currently own Valais Blacknose sheep, but who have a demonstrable interest in the breed or intend to own Valais Blacknose sheep in the future.

Gold, Silver, and Bronze membership categories are available only to residents of the United Kingdom.

1.2 Membership Categories & Subscriptions

Membership categories, associated benefits, and subscription rates shall be determined by Council and published by the Society.

Gold Membership: Breeder Annual Membership (for individuals or families registering sheep under a single flock prefix)

Gold Members shall receive:

  • Full access to the Online Registry, including registration of homebred animals and transfer of ownership
  • The ability to list animals for sale and to advertise rams for hire or for Artificial Insemination (AI)
  • One vote at the Annual General Meeting, any Extraordinary General Meeting, and in electronic or postal elections
  • A welcome pack

Silver Membership: Associate Annual Membership (for adult non-breeders)

Silver Members shall receive:

  • Read-only access to the Online Registry
  • The right to vote in electronic or postal Council elections
  • A welcome pack

Bronze Membership:  Junior Annual Membership (for non-breeders under 18)

Bronze Members shall receive:

  • Read-only access to the Online Registry
  • A welcome pack

Overseas Membership: Annual Membership for members based outside the United Kingdom

Overseas Members shall receive:

  • Read-only access to the Online Registry.

1.3 Subscription Period

Subscriptions are due annually on 1 January and run until 31 December inclusive.

Membership applications and renewals may be made at any time during the membership year.

The applicable annual subscription fee is payable in full at the time of application, renewal, or re-joining.

New Members joining on or after 1 July shall be eligible for a reduced Gold subscription rate. The reduced rate does not apply to lapsed members re-joining.

1.4 Payment Methods

Subscriptions may be paid by BACS , Direct Debit or Cheque

For Direct Debit payments:

  • The first collection shall be taken on the first day of the month following application; and
  • Subsequent collections shall be taken annually on 1 January.

1.5 Welcome Pack

New Members shall receive a welcome pack upon receipt of their subscription payment.
The contents of the welcome pack shall be determined by the Society.

Welcome packs are issued to new members only and are not provided where a member renews or rejoins the Society.

1.6 Membership Application

Membership applications shall be submitted via the Society website or Grassroots.

Applications shall be processed by Grassroots on behalf of the Society.

Upon confirmation of payment:

  • Access to the Online Registry shall be provided
  • A welcome pack shall be posted to new members

1.7 Conduct & Termination of Membership

Membership is conditional upon compliance with these Rules, applicable livestock health and welfare legislation, and conduct consistent with the aims and reputation of the Society.

Any Member who fails to comply with these Rules or any obligations imposed by them, or who, in the opinion of Council, acts in a manner detrimental to the standing or interests of the Society, may at the discretion of Council be suspended or barred from Membership.

1.8 Intellectual Property & Branding

All intellectual property belonging to the Valais Blacknose Society, including but not limited to the Society name, logo, branding, registered or unregistered trademarks, official imagery, publications, Registry database, website content, merchandise designs, and event materials, shall remain the property of the Society.

Members shall not reproduce, adapt, modify, distribute, publish, or use any Society intellectual property for commercial or promotional purposes without prior written consent of the Society.

Members shall not create logos, branding, merchandise, or marketing materials that incorporate, imitate, or derive from the Society’s intellectual property in a manner that may cause confusion or imply official endorsement.

Any unauthorised use of the Society’s intellectual property may be treated as a breach of these Rules and dealt with in accordance with Clause 1.7.

1.9 Confidentiality

Members must not disclose, publish, or distribute confidential Society communications or internal documentation without prior authorisation.

Confidential information includes, but is not limited to:

  • Council communications
  • Internal correspondence
  • Draft policies or unpublished documents
  • Member information not in the public domain
  • Any material clearly intended for internal circulation only

Unauthorised disclosure may be treated as a breach of these Rules and dealt with in accordance with Clause 1.7.

1.10 Regional Clubs

The Society may recognise affiliated Regional Clubs.

Affiliated Regional Clubs operate in accordance with the Regional Clubs Framework, the Regional Clubs Branding Guidelines, and the Society’s Constitution, Rules and Policies.

Regional Clubs operate under the authority of the Society and must not represent themselves as acting independently of the Society in matters relating to the breed or Society governance.

The Council retains authority for the recognition, affiliation, oversight, and, where necessary the withdrawal of recognition of Regional Clubs.

  1. Flock Book & Online Registry

2.1 Administration

The Society Flock Book and Online Registry shall be maintained by Grassroots Systems Ltd on behalf of the Society.

Access to the Online Registry is subject to membership status and payment of all applicable fees.

For the purposes of these Rules, the Flock Book constitutes the official pedigree record of the breed, and the Online Registry is the digital system through which those records are administered and accessed.

2.2 Purpose & Structure of the Flock Book

The Flock Book exists to maintain the accuracy, integrity, and traceability of pedigree Valais Blacknose sheep within the United Kingdom.

There shall be no Grading Up, Appendix, or Supplementary Register within the Society.

All animals must comply with:

  • Applicable Zootechnical legislation; and
  • Society Breed Standards.

2.3 Flock Name (Prefix)

Members wishing to register animals must register a unique flock prefix.

Approval is conditional upon:

  • The name not already being registered; and
  • The name not being confusingly similar to another registered prefix.

2.4 Identification & Tagging

All sheep must be identified in accordance with current Government legislation.

Lost tags must be replaced using the original number, and Grassroots must be notified of any changes.

Imported sheep must be re-tagged in accordance with UK legislation.

2.5 Registration of UK Born Animals

Animals eligible for full registration must:

  • Be bred in the United Kingdom
  • Have two parents registered in the Flock Book
  • Comply with the Society Breed Standards; and
  • Undergo mandatory DNA profile sampling

Applications must:

  • Be submitted by the breeder
  • Be submitted prior to the animal being sold as a pedigree animal or used for breeding
  • Include the breeder’s National Flock Number and registered flock prefix; and
  • Be accompanied by payment in full

Applications submitted after 18 months of age shall incur Late Registration fees in addition to applicable DNA testing costs, as determined by Council.

2.6 Registration of Imported Animals

Imported animals shall be eligible for full registration in the Flock Book, provided that:

  • The animal is registered with a recognised Zootechnical registry operating in accordance with applicable legislation
  • An application is submitted by the importer within six months of importation into the United Kingdom; and
  • The application is accompanied by an official pedigree export or import certificate containing a full three-generation pedigree, proof of purchase in the country of origin, and copies of all relevant importation and movement documentation

All imported animals must undergo mandatory UK DNA sampling and profiling as a condition of registration. The DNA profile shall be recorded within the Flock Book for future parentage verification.

The Society reserves the right to request additional documentation where necessary to ensure the accuracy, traceability, and integrity of the Flock Book.

Upon satisfactory review of documentation and completion of DNA profiling, the pedigree information shall be recorded in the Flock Book, and a UK registration number and pedigree certificate shall be issued.

2.7 Embryo Transfer (ET) Lambs

Lambs produced by Embryo Transfer shall be eligible for full registration provided that:

  • Both biological parents are registered in the Flock Book
  • Documentary evidence of embryo collection and implantation is lodged with Grassroots in a form acceptable to the Society; and
  • Full identification details of the donor ewe, sire, collecting agent, recipient ewe(s), where applicable, and the number and disposition of embryos are provided

Embryos sold frozen or in recipient ewes must be notified to Grassroots at the time of sale and before the birth of any resulting lambs.

All lambs produced by Embryo Transfer must undergo mandatory DNA parentage verification prior to registration being finalised.

2.8 Spitti

Spitti males:

  • Are not eligible for full registration; and
  • May, at the request of the breeder, be recorded either:
    • as a non-breeding animal and issued with a “Listed – Non-Breeding” certificate; or
    • as Birth Notified only

Where a Spitti male has been inadvertently fully registered, the Society shall correct the registration, including removal from full registration and reclassification as “Listed – Non-Breeding.”

Any offspring from a Spitti male that was not eligible for full registration shall be removed from the Society Flock Book, as they are not eligible by virtue of their sire.

Spitti females:

  • May be eligible for full registration
  • Must undergo mandatory DNA parentage verification; and
  • Shall be clearly identified as “Spitti” within the Flock Book, and the designation shall appear as part of the animal’s registered name

 2.9 Non-Member Animal Registration

In accordance with applicable Zootechnical legislation, non-members may apply to register animals in the Flock Book, subject to the following conditions:

  • Animals must meet the Society Breed Standards and eligibility requirements for registration
  • Mandatory DNA parentage verification shall apply
  • The applicant must comply with all relevant Society Rules and registration requirements
  • The Council reserves the right to refuse registration where eligibility requirements are not met; and
  • A non-member surcharge, as determined by Council and published by the Society, shall apply in addition to applicable DNA testing costs

Non-members registering animals are not eligible to:

  • Exhibit animals at Society events
  • Present sheep for grading; or
  • Sell livestock at Society sales

2.10 Prohibited Practices

The Society does not permit the use of sexed semen in the breeding of animals intended for registration in the Flock Book.

Any animal bred using sexed semen shall not be eligible for registration in the Flock Book.

Where an animal has been registered in breach of this Rule, it shall be removed from the Flock Book.

A breach of this Rule may result in suspension or termination of Membership in accordance with Clause 1.7.

2.11 Advertising via the Online Registry

Members wishing to advertise animals for sale, or to advertise rams for hire or for Artificial Insemination (AI), via the Online Registry must ensure that the relevant animal record is accurately maintained in accordance with the Society’s registration requirements.

Animals must be removed from sale listings once sold or no longer available.

2.12 Registration Fees & Financial Enforcement

Registration fees and DNA testing charges shall be determined by Council and published by the Society.

All registration fees shall be paid at the time of application.

Where registration fees remain unpaid for a period of three months from the date of application:

  • The animals’ registration application shall be suspended; and
  • The Member’s access to the Online Registry shall be suspended until payment is received

Upon receipt of outstanding payment, the registration application and the Member’s access to the Online Registry shall be reinstated.

2.13 Naming of Registered Animals

All animals submitted for registration must be named in accordance with the Society’s annual alphabetical naming system.

The initial letter of each animal’s name must correspond to the designated letter for its year of birth, as determined and published annually by the Society.

The full registered name of an animal, including the flock prefix and any spaces, must not exceed the character limit.

The Society reserves the right to reject or amend any name that:

  • Does not comply with the annual letter designation
  • Exceeds the maximum character limit; or
  • Is deemed inappropriate or likely to cause confusion within the Flock Book