Navajo-Churro Sheep

Navajo-Churro sheep was brought to New Mexico’s Rio Grande Valley by the Spaniards in the 16th century. It is North America’s earliest domesticated farm animal, a descendant of the ancient Iberian breed known as Churra.

Even though the sheep were once numbered in the millions, the breed was almost brought to extinction, and by the 1970s, only 450 Navajo-Churro sheep were present in the United States. In the 1980s, an effort was made to restore the breed, so by 2005, the Navajo-Churro Sheep Association had more than 5000 registered individuals.

The meat of these sheep is lean with a sweet flavor that is very distinctive. The sheep also provide abundant milk, while the meat is beloved by the Navajos, celebrity chefs, and traditional cooks.