Schwarzbraunes Bergschaf
The Schwarzbraunes Bergschaf is a Swiss breed of domestic sheep from the area of the Jura mountains in Switzerland. It derives from the Swiss Frutigen, Jura, Roux-des-Bagnes, Saanen and Simmental breeds. The name means "black-brown mountain sheep". It is one of the four principal sheep breeds of Switzerland. It is present also in Austria, Germany and Italy, and in those countries is known as the Juraschaf. The first official description is from 1925; the breed standard dates from 1941, and the herd-book was established in 1979. Numbers for the breed in 2008 were 14161 in Switzerland, 822 in Austria, 580 in Italy and 19 in Germany. In Italy the Juraschaf is one of the forty-two autochthonous local sheep breeds of limited distribution for which a herd-book is kept by the Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia, the Italian national association of sheep-breeders; the name "Schwarzbraunes Bergschaf" is used in Italy for the Braunes Bergschaf, a different breed.
| Life Span | 10-12 years |
| Weight | 45-160 kg |
What to Know Before Buying a Schwarzbraunes Bergschaf
Finding a responsible Schwarzbraunes Bergschaf breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells sheeps commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.
Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Schwarzbraunes Bergschaf. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.
Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Schwarzbraunes Bergschafs appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.
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Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
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