Navajo-Churro – the oldest sheep breed in America - How to achieve sustainable food production for increased profit and well-being

Navajo-Churro Sheep Facts - Learn Natural Farming

The Navajo Churro sheep are descendants of Spanish Churro sheep that were originally brought to America as a source of meat for conquistadors and the missionaries that followed them. They were first used by Native Americans for the same purpose, but quickly came to be valued for their wool, and selection for fleece character along with the natural selection of the arid Southwestern deserts led to the development of the Navajo Churro. In the 1860s the Navajo Churro sheep population was nearly destroyed by government culling programs in an attempt to subjugate the Navajo. The remaining stock was diluted by efforts to “improve” flocks through the introduction of other breeds. The Navajo Churro Sheep Association and registry began in 1986 and includes the many groups of people who had historically been involved with the breed. The population is now stable and growing, and efforts to maintain breed purity and to return flocks to the Navajo continue. Navajo Churro sheep have a fine, soft inner coat and a long, coarse outer coat that sheds rain and snow and protects the inner coat from dust and dirt. The fleece is open and low in grease, making it easy to process, and can be found in a range of colors including white, silver, red, blue, brown, black and spotted. It has traditionally been used for Navajo rug weaving and tapestries, as it is primarily considered a carpet wool.

Videos

This story is meant to be a small glimpse into the life of Navajo shepherds and pay respect to the sacred relationship between the Navajo people and their Navajo-Churro sheep. It’s commonly said that one must be Navajo to truly understand the depth of this sacred bond and what it means among families, clans and on an individual level. For that reason and more, this story was told by the shepherds themselves.

The Navajo Nation lies at the heart of the American Southwest. It spans over 27,000 square miles across the Four Corners region. This land is the center of Diné culture and home to over 300,000 Navajo people whose heritage dates back countless generations. At the core of this culture is a sacred, traditional way of life: The Navajo shepherd and the Navajo-Churro sheep. Full Stetson Story: http://blog.stetson.com/the-navajo-ch…

Sheep are an ancient companion that once were the most abundant livestock upon the Wyoming landscape. In recent years the sheep market has floundered but as local foods broaden America’s palate again, the sheep are making a comeback… We’ll visit a mother/daughter operation in Lovell raising crossed Dorper/ Katahdin hair sheep, both relatively new breeds, but gaining in popularity in Wyoming. We’ll also visit the homestead of the Spear S Ranch in Red Canyon where they work to restore the oldest domestic breed of sheep in the Americas, the Navajo-Churro. Originally broadcast on 5/10/19.

Spear S Ranch Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SpearSProduceCompany

Drought tolerant breeds: Navajo-Churro — Debby Bradford and the Story of the Santa Cruz Island Sheep — Lynn Moody — Fibershed Wool Symposium 2015 http://fibershed.org

Association

The Navajo-Churro Sheep Association (N-CSA) was formed to preserve and promote this truly All-American breed. The N-CSA currently has 166 members and over 5,090 registered animals.

Navajo-Churro Sheep Association
P.O. Box 190840
Boise, ID 83719-0840
spindanceacres@gmail.com

Source: http://www.navajo-churrosheep.com/

More than Four Hundred Years Ago …
the first sheep were brought into the Southwest by Don Juan Onate. The fact that these sheep still exist today is a testimony to their endurance and endearment. No other sheep population in the history of the world has survived so much selective pressure with such dignity and spirit.

The Navajo-Churro breed is considered a rare breed. The gene pool is presently large enough to maintain the breed type with the diversity of available unrelated lines. Fortunately for breeders, a well established network of registered stock is available, scattered throughout the US and Canada.

These sheep with their long staple of protective top coat and soft undercoat are well suited to extremes of climate. Some rams have four fully developed horns, a trait shared by few other breeds of the world. The Navajo-Churro is highly resistant to disease, and although it responds to individual attention, it needs no pampering to survive and prosper. The ewes lamb easily and are fiercely protective. Twins and triplets are not uncommon. The flavor of the meat is incomparably superior, with a surprisingly low fat content.