Welcome to Black Opal Livestock LLC

Keith and Barbara Whisenhunt started Black Opal Livestock in 2025. We are located in Park County, Wyoming near the eastern entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Please feel free to reach out to us by email or phone to talk about Australian White Sheep, our ranch and experiences as new sheep breeders, our sheep, BOL goals, or our industry.

As owners of BOL, we are working to create a multi-generational business built on a reputation for providing consistent, reliable and prized genetic materials and breeding stock to other Australian White sheep breeders, individuals starting new flocks, or those who want to add these genetics to enhance existing meat production flocks in the United States and for export to other countries.

Black Opal Livestock is building our flock of registered full-blood Australian White sheep from embryos imported directly from Tattykeel and developing proven, genetically diverse, full-blood registered sheep with every new generation. We are working to build a reputation for providing convenient access to reliable, high quality genetic materials and registered animals to farms and ranches in Northwest, Mountain West and western Central US States.

As we continue to build our flock, we are focusing on gathering information about our animals, including confirmation, qualities, conditioning, feeding, development, from conception until sale so buyers can access specific, quantifiable information to make the best purchasing decision. We will only sell genetic materials or animals that meet or exceed standards for excellence in AW sheep.

We are actively seeking and welcoming opportunities to actively participate in studies, ventures, cooperatives, and groups working to increase the availability and accuracy of information about the genetic, growth, vigor, taste and tenderness of Australian White animals and meat. As early producers of registered Full-blood Australian White sheep in the United States, we are responsible for protecting the quality, integrity and reputation of this breed as availability grows in the United States. For that reason, we want to participate in developing accessible, understandable industry standards and information sources to build consumer confidence and interest in seeking out Australian White sheep and meat. trying and access as we try to increase the market for and sales of other hair sheep breeds in the US. We are also interested in similar opportunities to participate within the larger community of those raising other hair-sheep breeds in the United States.

We want to hear from other owners and breeders of full-blood, registered Australian White sheep, to discuss ways to increase genetic diversity in the USA by using and trading semen, eggs, and embryos. We want to establish and coordinate shared genetic material collection and implant events in Wyoming or other western states staffed by deployed teams from experienced and trusted US professional firms.