The churra sheep breed, a variety noted for its hardiness and multi-colored fleece, was brought by the Spaniards to Mexico in 1540. Sacred Sheep Revive Navajo Tradition, For Now For as long as anyone can remember, Churro sheep have been central to Navajo life and spirituality. And the mature rams on average reach around 75 kg live body weight. The Navajo Livestock Reduction was imposed by the United States government upon the Navajo Nation in the 1930s, during the Great Depression.The reduction of herds was conducted because grazing areas were becoming eroded and deteriorated due to too many animals. At Arriola Sunshine Farm we are in the business of harvesting solar energy. The Navajo-Churro has benefited from this broad-based conservation effort, and registrations rose steadily from 1986 through 1997. The Navajo-Churro is a rare, endangered breed of sheep commonly thought to be adapted from the Churra, which were carried to North America by the Spaniards over 400 years ago. Considerations when Registering Sheep Page 6 Navajo-Churro Sheep Association Breed Standard Page 7 Most Desirable Breed Traits with Illustrations Page 8 Acceptable but Marginal Traits with Illustrations Page 9 Unacceptable for Registration with Illustrations Page 10 Horn Formations in Rams Page 11 Horns should not grow excessively forward or into the face causing obvious interference with the sheep’s well being. The Churro sheep were brought to Spain by Muslims, but obviously not yet called “Navajo” Churros, but simply “Churros.” Ask a Spanish-speaker today the definition of the word “churro,” and he or she will likely tell you it is a fried-dough pastry snack, or a word that means “an attractive person.” 50 years later, it had already spread overland to New Mexico. This sheep breed has been bred for centuries to survive in the exact desert environment that we live in. From that time on the Churro held a very special place in the culture of the Navajo People. The sheep is not just a commodity. The Churro were acquired from the Spanish one way or another. Uses. The Churra was the very first breed of domesticated sheep in the New World. Churro sheep are able to live on sparse water and vegetation. The Algarve Churro sheep is a meat sheep breed. We feel if we do not assist, we will lose vital genetics to keep this important landrace sheep from possible extinction. Because Navajo-Churro store fat in their bellies, the meat is very lean in comparison to the meat of other contemporary breeds. 2# shows a grocery receipt with the ingredients to make churros and chocolate sauce. Selecting a breed of sheep. Sacred Sheep Revive Navajo Tradition, For Now For as long as anyone can remember, Churro sheep have been central to Navajo life and spirituality. "The Churro sheep are suffering from malnutrition. Sheep have a ceremonial value that far outweighs the cost of keeping sheep. 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. Photo and info from Wikipedia. The churro sheep lives in the steppe and has horns that resemble the spanish desert churro. And the mature rams on average reach around 75 kg live body weight. 4# shows a watch set at the time that people eat churros and the question “A.M. It is raised mainly for meat production purpose. Our breeding sheep are registered with the Navajo-Churro … Watch Queue Queue Arizona is famous for saguaro and prickly pear cactus, Navajo-Churro sheep and mesquite pod flour.