Navajo-Churro Sheep Breed – Everything You Need to Know

The Navajo-Churro sheep breed a medium sized breed of sheep with a medium to long woolen fleece that hangs around their body like soft fur found on a dog. The have long thin body that looks filled out due to their heavy coats. The rams have beautiful spiral horns that are set back against their head.
They are a dual-purpose breed that has much to offer farmers especially those in hot to dry or where the weather falls to sub-zero temperatures.

NAVAJO-CHURRO SHEEP QUICK PROFILE OVERVIEW
They are a docile and even personable breed of sheep with a beautiful soft coat of wool
Country of Origin:	United States of America
Other Names:	Churro, America Four-Horned or Navajo Four-Horned sheep
Breed Size:	Medium
Main Purpose:	Meat and wool
Can be used for	Breed, **LSC, Meat, Skin, Wool
Temperament:	Docile and easy to handle
Ideal Climate:	Heat, Cold, Most climates
Conservation Status:	listed by the *ALC Status/Rarity: Threatened/Rare
Health Issues?	No known health issues
Good Starter Sheep?	Novice to intermediate sheep farmers/keepers
Sheep Associations:	Navajo-Churro Sheep Association
Sheep Clubs:	Please refer to the Navajo-Churro Sheep Association for further information
Note: ALC stands for American Livestock Conservancy * LSC stands for Landscape Management – the animal is used for controlling various vegetation growth

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

They are a medium sized breed with a long slender carriage that is filled out by their thick woolen coat. They have a white face that is clean of wool and medium length strong legs.

Color(s):

White, blue, black, red, silver, brown and spotted. There are quite a few colors and color formations/patterns for the Navajo-Churro breed

SHEEP ⇒	EWE	RAM
Breed Weight:	45 to 54 kgs	72 to 90 kgs
Breed Height:	Unclear they are a medium sized breed	Unclear they are a medium sized breed
Hair:	Their fleece is medium to long. It is defined as a coarse hair with 3 different fibers. The hair is straight with no defined crimp in it. It is a double coat of wool	Their fleece is medium to long. It is defined as a coarse hair with 3 different fibers. The hair is straight with no defined crimp in it. It is a double coat of wool
Ears:	Long to medium length and alerts at the sides of their head	Long to medium length and alerts at the sides of their head
Horns:	There are polled and horned version some even have multiple horns. The ewes horns are usually curled from the head around the ears and close to the head	There are polled and horned version some even have multiple horns. The rams horns curl from the head around the ear close to the head and then spiral outwards in one or two spirals.
Matures at age:	10 weeks/15 months	10 weeks to 15 months
Puberty Age:	5 to 12 months	5 to 7 months
Breeding Age:	18 months	1 year
Breeding Traits:	See Ewe Breeding & Milking Info.	Cover 5 to 10 Ewes in 1 season

EWE BREEDING & MILKING INFORMATION
They are seasonal breeders, but the lambs mature quickly so they may produce two lamb crops a year if the rams are left with the ewes all year around.
Breeding Period/cycle:	Usually lasts 24 to 36 hours
Estrous cycle:	Ave. 17 days/13 to 19 days
Gestation Period:	Usually, around 150 to 155 days but most gestation is 152 days
No. Lambs/Litter:	1 to 2 (twins) although 3 (triplets) are not uncommon.
Lactation Period:	Usually, around 150 to 240 day but most are milked for 180 days
Milking From:	4 to 6 weeks after lambing
Milk Quality:	Good – ***NDS, Quantity: Ave. 180 to 495 liters Per Lactation period
Milk Ideal for:	Lambs
Note: *DS – stands for Dairy Sheep * NDS – stands for Non-Dairy Sheep
You may Also Like:	10 Best Sheep Breeds for Milk

SHEEP MEAT PRODUCTION INFORMATION

For geneartions the Navajo-Churro sheep has been providing people with lean, sweet meat with its own distinctive flavor. The meat is tender, fine grained and very lean making for less wastage.

Meat Production:

Yes, Quality: Excellent

SHEEP ⇒	LAMB	HOGGET/MUTTON
Approx. Maturity Weight:	20 to 25 kgs	45 to 90 kgs
Approx. Maturity Age:	4 to 5 months/121 to 304 days	1 year +

SHEEP WOOL PRODUCTION INFORMATION

The Navajo-Churro is one of the first wool breeds in the USA and has been used for famous Navajo rugs, saddle blankets and various weaves. The wool has two layers to it and is long, fine but coarse. The outer coat is long and of a staple length. The inner wool is softer and downier than the outer layer of their wool. Their coat consists of 3 different fiber types classed as inner coat, outer coat and kemp.

Wool Production?

Yes, Quality: Coarse, Downy and kemp – Spinning count varies from the inner to outer coats.

Wool is used to Produce:

Blankets, saddle blankets, rugs, mats and outer garmets

SHEEP ⇒	EWE	RAM
Age they Produce from:	6 to 8 months	6 to 8 months
Approx. Length:	Inner – 10 to 35 Outer – 35	Inner – 10 to 35 Outer – 35
Microns:	Inner – 3 to 5 inches Outer – 6 to 12 inches	Inner – 3 to 5 inches Outer – 6 to 12 inches
Approx. Quantity:	Unclear	Unclear

SHEEP SKIN PRODUCTION INFORMATION

Their sheep skin is fine and soft. It has been used for generations for rugs, pelts and various garments by the Navajo.

Skin Production?

Yes, Quality: Fine, soft and strong

Skin is used to Produce:

Rugs, pelts and outer garments.
Chamois cloths, leather goods such as seats, shoes and other garments and leather materials such as furniture, etc.

SHEEP ⇒	EWE	RAM
Age they Produce from:	3 to 10 months for Kid skin 1 to 2 years old for Normal leather	3 to 10 months for Kid skin 1 to 2 years old for Normal leather

GOOD TO KNOW ABOUT THE IL DE FRANCE SHEEP
A few more interesting facts to know about the breed
Child-Friendly?	No livestock should be left unattended around children
Landscape Management?	Most sheep breeds are good for the landscape in some way or the other
Where to buy them?	Please refer to the Navajo-Churro Sheep Association for further information
General Information	They are a docile, personable and easy to handle sheep breed that have been around for a very long time. They were used by the Navajo for their wool in rugs, horse saddle blankets, blankets and their hides for clothes.

HISTORY

The Navajo-Churro is one of the first breeds of sheep to be imported into North America around the 16th century. They were mostly used to feed Spanish settlers and army. By the 17th century the breed popularity had spread, and some flocks of the Navajo-Churro were being kept by the Navajo which they acquired through various trades.

The Churro sheep breed quickly became a good source of income for the Navajo as they used the sheep fleece for the weaving of fine, rugs, blankets and horse blankets. The soft fine leather from the sheep skin was used for rugs, pelts and various outer garments.

The Churro breed nearly disappeared due to commercial farming and various government-sponsored flocks of sheep. In the 1970’s the breed began to be revived by some sheep breeding enthusiasts started acquiring Churro phenotypes in order to preserve the breed. The numbers of the breed grew and although they are no longer in danger of extinction the breed is still considered rare and listed by the American Livestock Conservation.