Participation/Request for Service/General: 

• Adult: Flock Membership, Junior: Flock membership (21 and younger) and non-members are eligible to register sheep with the AVBSR. It is the responsibility of the person who seeks to register a sheep of Valais Blacknose genetics to be aware of all applicable rules and guiding principles and policies for such transaction at the time the submittal or request is made. The individual submitting work is responsible for supplying all required information. All supporting document(s) (parental verification, three-pedigree registration certificate for transfer, breeding certificate for leases, AI, ET, and/or proof of ownership) must be submitted with initial registration and/or transfer application. 

• The submission of an application or the request for AVBSR service is an agreement by the individual to pay the related fees in preparation and/or processing the request. No service of any kind will be processed unless the appropriate fees are submitted. 

• The Rules and Guiding Principles and Policies in effect at the time of submission of application for service, entry, or other participation in AVBSR will apply to each transaction, applications and/or members. The Rules and Guiding Policies and Principles are set forth solely for the benefit of the Valais Blacknose Sheep breed and shall never be amended to purposely prejudice any one individual or farm. As any and all new updates in technologies, breed standards, USA and International importation and exportation are received, these Rules and Guiding Principles and Policies are subject to change by approval of the advisory board of the AVBSR. 

 Owner/Breeder:

• The breeder is the owner/lessee of the ewe/dam at the time of breeding. The owner is the owner of the ewe/dam at the date of birth of the lamb, except in cases of embryo lambs as provided for in Embryo Transfer section. The owner of embryo transfer lambs is the owner of the recipient ewe at the date of birth of the lamb. 

• Associated Registry, contracted services, will issue AVBSR registration certificate to the person listed as the owner of the application unless directed otherwise in writing, such as transfer of ownership note on registration application. 

• Flock/Farm name is the name in which sheep are owned and the name in which membership dues are paid. 

• Flock/Farm registry membership number is a numerical code that is assigned by Associated Registry to the name in which an animal has been registered and/or transferred. Flock prefix code is a 3-5 letter code, may be an abbreviation of your name, farm name or other. The Flock/Farm registry number and Flock prefix code It is designed to ease tracking of ownership in the computer system. 

• Animal Identification: Animal identification must consist of numbers and/or letters on eartag, tattoo, or other officially recognized identification that is unique to individual (including flock of origin prefix). Record this number exact as it is on the animal. It is recommended to use official USDA identification, when possible, for unique identification. All documents for registration (registration application, DNA parental verification, and/or change of ownership) must document this unique identification on all documents submitted for service. Individuals may include name in addition to unique animal identification. 

Registration Classifications:

• Fullblood Valais Blacknose Sheep Fullblood Valais Blacknose must have originated from 100% Fullblood stock, either imported or American born. Fullblood Valais Blacknose Sheep are designated with gold colored certificate. 

• American Purebred Valais Blacknose Ewes (females) American Purebred Valais Blacknose Ewes must have a minimum of 93.75% and less than 100% Valais Blacknose blood and originated from any combination of Fullblood, American Purebred, or American Percentage parents whose average percentage falls withing the requirement for this category of registration. Calculated percentage is rounded down to 3 decimal places (thousandths). American Purebred sheep are designated with a white colored certificate. 

• American Purebred Valais Rams (male) American Purebred Valis Blacknose Rams must have a minimum 96.875% and less than 100% Valais Blacknose blood and originated from any combination of Fullblood, American Purebred, or American Percentage parents whose average percentage falls withing the requirement for this category of registration. Calculated percentage is rounded down to 3 decimal places (thousandths). American Purebred Valais Blacknose sheep are designated with a white colored certificate. 

• American Percentage Valais Blacknose Ewes (females) American Percentage Valais Blacknose Ewes must have a minimum of 25% and less than 93.75% Valais Blacknose blood and originated from any combination of Fullblood, American Purebred, American Percentage, or unregistered parents whose average percentage falls within the requirement for this category of registration. Calculated percentage is rounded down to 3 decimal places (thousandths). American Percentage sheep are designated with a grey colored certificate. 

• American Percentage Valais Blacknose Rams (males) American Percentage Valais Blacknose Rams must have a minimum of 50% and less than 96.75% Valais Blacknose blood and originated from any combination of Fullblood, American Purebred, American Percentage, or unregistered parents whose average percentage falls within the requirement for this category of registration. Calculated percentage is rounded down to 3 decimal places (thousandths). American Percentage sheep are designated with a grey colored certificate. 

• Record of Pedigree-Foundation Ewes and Wethers Animals Otherwise Ineligible for Registration; Can apply for Record of Pedigree Ewes less than 25%, rams less than 50%, and wethers (castrated males) are ineligible for registration but are eligible for a “Record of Pedigree” certificate. Recorded certificates are recorded on a grey colored certificate. 

• Registration of Imported Fullblood Animals and Germplasm Imported applies to live animals, semen from animals, and embryos bred and produced outsides of the United States of American. To be eligible for registration with AVBSR, these animals must meet following criteria: a) An official certificate of pedigree (3 generations) from the official registry associated of the country of origin with AVBRS registration applications b) Sire and Dam of embryo or live animal must have DNA marker testing for parent verifications for live animals or embryos (see DNA Parent Verification section). c) Proof of transfer of ownership of embryo or live animal may be by either transfer of ownership statement, bill of sale, or an document from the original breeder, or subsequent purchaser, if re-sold. 

• Leasing AVBSR Rams or Ewes The owner of an AVBSR registered animal may lease official identified animal to another breeder(s) by completing a lease agreement document. In the case of partnership ewe lease, or lease to more than one breeder, the lessees may divide the ownership of the resulting offspring. All lessees will be listed as the breeder of any offspring conceived during the lease period. When a ram is leased, a breeding certificate for must be signed identifying service ram by official identification, ewes bred by official identification, and dates of lease. 

• Registration Form Content A complete application for registration must be submitted to Associated Registry office, along with any required documents, forms, signature, and payment of all applicable fees. Current forms are available from the Associated Registry website. Whenever an application for registration is incomplete and the applicant has failed to provide all the information required by Associated Registry and AVBSR Rules within 90 days of the date Associated Registry receives the application, such application shall be considered incomplete and null. An application shall be considered incomplete if not accompanied by required fee. Applications returned or deemed null because of incomplete documentation can be resubmitted with complete documentation and required fee. 

• Age of Animal at Registration Animals should be registered within 12 months of age to avoid a late fee penalty. Animals older than 12 months of age may be registered if they provide all proper information pertaining to registration application, DNA parent verification, and proof of ownership, but will receive a late fee. 

DNA Parent Verification: 

• All lambs/sheep submitted for registration must be DNA marker tested for parent verified at an accredited national or international lab for ovine (sheep) DNA parent verification. Labs such as Neogen, Flock 54, UCDavis, GenomNZ, or Zoetis. As embryos and semen are being imported from various countries and breeders; and new technologies and labs offer a variety of services and DNA analysis, therefore no one lab is required for DNA parent verification as long as lab is accredited, and test verification meet the following criteria. 

  a) Dam, Sire, and offspring for parent verification must have DNA marker testing on file at the same lab for parent verification. No cross lab use for DNA marker testing to verify parentage (i.e. Dam cannot be at one lab and/or a Sire and/or offspring at another lab).

  b) DNA parent verification for the animal being registered must be submitted on official accredited lab letterhead and signed by verifying lab/company with registration application.

  c) It is the responsibility of the breeder and/or owner of animal to provide DNA marker testing of dam, sire, and offspring for parental verification at an accredited lab for registration. For individuals marketing semen and/or embryos, and/or leasing animals it may be in the best interest to bank the DNA marker at multiple labs where offspring and/or ewes may be tested.

  d) Any non-Valais Blacknose sheep influenced animal (foundation ewes) or wethers (castrated males) need not present a DNA marker parent verification. American percentage animals out of foundation ewes will represent half of the VBS influence of the DNA verified American Percentage, American Purebred, or Fullblood Valais Blacknose ram used. (i.e. a foundation ewe bred to a Fullblood ram does not have to be DNA marker verified, but the ram and offspring does require DNA marker testing for sire parentage verification; lamb would be recognized as 50% American Percentage Valais Blacknose Sheep). Wethers of any percentage do not need to be DNA marker parent verified. 

Change of Ownership aka Transfers of Ownership

When a AVBSR sheep is sold, change of ownership must be transferred to the buyer and recorded with AVBSR before progeny can be registered. 

• The original AVBSR certificate must be signed by owner/seller and include buyer name, complete address, and date of sale. Associated Registry will record the transfer of ownership in the AVBSR and send the certificate to the new owner. Change of ownership should be sent to ASR within 90 days of sale of the animal to avoid a late fee penalty. Animal’s ownership must be transferred within 1 year of sale. 

• Transfer of Registered/Recorded Animals in Another Valais Blacknose Association to AVBSR Transfer applications for animals already registered in another Valais Blacknose association must be accompanied by a copy of the registration certification (3 generation pedigree) for that animal. A pedigree recording fee will apply to animal transfer to AVBSR to cover pedigree input cost into the AVBSR database by Associated Registry. 

• Change of Ownership of Bred Ewe Change of Ownership of an ewe that has been serviced but prior to lambing is considered a Bred Ewe. The breeder of the bred ewe must sign a breeding certificate identifying service sire for the ewe to be transferred in addition to a change of ownership on registration application or back of registration. If service sire is leased, a breeding certificate for the ram must accompany the registration application. If the ewe was bred via AI, documentation of AI date and ram official identification should be documented and proof of semen ownership. Since DNA marker testing of dam, sire, and offspring is required for parental verification for registration in AVBSR, artificial insemination reports need not be sent for registration purposes but should be kept for one’s own records. 

Artificial Insemination

Females may be bred by artificial insemination using fresh, chilled, or frozen semen via laparoscopic or transcervical artificial insemination. 

• Purchased Domestic Semen Breeding certificate from owner of ram or bill of sale/invoice of purchased semen must accompany documentation for animal being registered. The breeding certificate/invoice/bill of sale must identify ram by official registration number. 

• Purchase of Imported Semen Fullblood semen imported from other countries must have documents (registration certificate in respective country (3 generations), semen transfer/bill of sale) from breeder and/or semen supplier/broker. Copies of these documents must accompany registration application. It is the responsibility of breeder to source semen from rams that have been DNA marker tested at an accredited lab that dam and offspring can be DNA marker tested for DNA parent verification when offspring are registered. If imported ram semen has not been DNA marker tested at an accredited lab where dam and offspring can have DNA marker testing, supplier of semen or breeder of animal to be registered can use semen straw of said ram at accredited lab for DNA marker testing to be used in parent verification of offspring. 

Embryo Transfer

In all cases, the breeder of an embryo is defined as the owner or lessee of the dam (in this case, the donor ewe) at the time of service. The breeding date is the date the donor ewe was naturally serviced or artificially inseminated. 

• Embryo Transfer Report The breeder of the animal (owner or lessee on record of the donor ewe at embryo conception) bears the responsibility to ensure embryo information is properly recorded and retained and that DNA of donor ewe and service/AI ram is marker tested for parent verification at same accredited lab (see DNA parent verification rule). At the time of embryo flush, the licensed veterinarian providing the service should complete an embryo transfer record. Information to include: date of service, official ID of donor ewe, official ID of ram, number of embryos recovered, number of embryos transferred, number of embryos frozen, ID of receipt ewes, signature of licensed veterinarian. If AI serviced, documentation of AI date and ram official identification should be documented. Since DNA marker testing of dam, sire, and offspring is required for parental verification for registration in AVBSR and proof of ownership, embryo transfer reports need not be sent for registration purposes but should be kept for one’s own records. 

• Change of Ownership of Embryos As with live animals, a transfer of ownership document must be provided when embryos change ownership. 

• Imported Frozen Embryos Fullbood frozen embryos imported from other countries must have documents (certificates of registrations for sire and dam-3 generations, embryo straw identification, and # of embryos per straw) from the exporter verifying the embryos originated from animals eligible for registration with AVBSR. USDA import documentation can also be used to support documentation of ownership, sire, dam and embryo straw information. Change of ownership (proof of ownership) of embryos can be documented with a transfer of ownership, bill of sale or official import documentation from exporter to importer. Proof of ownership document must accompany application for registration. 

• Change of Ownership of Recipient Bred Ewe with ET lamb(s) A change of ownership document or bill of sale for a recipient bred ewe with ET lamb(s) must be signed by owner and include buyer name, complete address, and date of sale. 

Loss of Certificate

• If a registration certificate is lost, a duplicate should be request from ASR by furnishing ASR with registration number of the animal. A duplicate certificate will be issued and will be stamped “duplicate” on the face. 

Special Consideration

• All attempts have been made to compile a complete set of guiding principles and policies and rules for the different circumstances involved in verifying animal parentage/pedigree and ownership for registration of animals into the AVBSR. However, with developing technologies, free trade opportunities, and as official rules for import germplasm may change from export country and/or USDA, registration or transfer of ownership that is not clearly defined by the AVBRS rules and guiding policies may be reviewed by the AVBSR Board of Directors and/or designated unbiased committee for registration and/or transfer.