Churra (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

• Sheep shearing
• Wool
• Navajo-Churro sheep

[edit] References

• Navajo-Churro. Breeds of Livestock. Oklahoma State University Dept. of Animal Science. “...are descended from the Churra, an ancient Iberian breed. Although secondary to the Merino, the Churra (later corrupted to "Churro" by American frontiersmen) was prized by the Spanish for its remarkable hardiness, adaptability and fecundity. The Churra was the very first breed of domesticated sheep in the New World. Its importation to New Spain by the Spanish dates back to the 16th century where it was used to feed and clothe the armies of the conquistadors and Spanish settlers.”