Navajo-Churro sheep were the first domesticated sheep introduced
into North America. Brought from Southern Spain in 1514, Churro sheep became
the mainstay of Spanish ranches and villages along the Rio Grande.
Native Indians acquired flocks of Churro for food and
clothing through raids and trading and eventually incorporated them into their
lifestyle. After nearly becoming extinct through a government sheep improvement program in the mid-1900s, the breed is now recovering and becoming more
popular, though still considered a rare breed.
Navajo-Churro sheep are a small breed, hardy, and disease
resistant. Rams may carry four horns. The Churro fleece is long, fine, and
coarse. It has two layers and is low in oil. Native Navajo tribes still use the
Churro fleece to weave their famous rugs and blankets.
About Navajo-Churro Sheep
