Churro (sheep)
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An ancient Iberian breed of sheep, the Churra (renamed Churro by American frontiersmen) was first imported to North America in the 16th century and used to feed Spanish armies and settlers. By the 17th century Churros were popular with the Spanish settlers in the upper Rio Grande Valley. Flocks of Churros were also acquired by Navajo through raids and trading, and soon became an important part of their economy and culture.
In the early 1900s, the federal government decided that other breeds would be better for reservation life and a program of out-breeding nearly caused the Churro sheep to go extinct. People concerned with quality of wool, history and culture of the Navajo are making an effort to save the breed.
Spanish traditional wisdom advises not to mix Churras and Merinas, i.e., not to confuse different concepts.
[edit] See also
- Domestic sheep
- Guard llama, llamas used as livestock guardians.
- Sheep shearing
- Wool
- Navajo-Churro sheep
[edit] External links
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