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Navajo-Churro sheep and wool in the United States

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2009

D.P. Sponenberg  and
C. Taylor
D.P. Sponenberg*
Affiliation:
Department of Biosciences and Pathobiology, Virginia–Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA
C. Taylor
Affiliation:
Navajo-Churro Sheep Association, P.O. Box 135, Hoehne, Colorado 81046, USA
*
Correspondence to: D.P. Sponenberg, Department of Biosciences and Pathobiology, Virginia–Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA. email: dpsponen@vt.edu
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Summary

Navajo-Churro sheep have been part of the subsistence of three cultures in the Southwest of the United States for over 400 years. These cultures include Navajo (a Native American nation), Hispanic and Anglo. The Navajo-Churro breed nearly became extinct in the 1950s to 1970s, but farsighted conservation programmes were then begun which involved all three cultures in saving this unique breed. Navajo-Churro sheep are a distinctive double-coated Criollo breed. The fleece type is superbly suited to the textiles produced in the local region and which are famous throughout the United States for their unique qualities and cultural relevance. A registry system involving ongoing inspection of each generation assures that the type remains traditional. Census numbers are now close to 3000 head as the breed moves beyond its original homeland to become more widely established throughout the United States.

Résumé

Pour plus de 400 ans, les moutons Navajo-Churro ont contribué à la subsistance de trois cultures du sud-ouest des Etats-Unis d'Amérique. Ces cultures sont la Navajo (une nation amérindienne), l'hispanique et l'anglo-américaine. Entre les années 50 et 70, la race Navajo-Churro a presque disparu, mais au cours de ces années, des programmes prévoyants de conservation impliquant les trois cultures ont été lancés pour sauver cette race unique. Le mouton Navajo-Churra est une race distincte Criollo, avec une double toison de poil et de laine. Ce type de toison est idéal pour la production des textiles de cette région, qui sont célèbres partout aux Etats-Unis pour leurs qualités uniques et leur intérêt culturel. Un régime d'enregistrement prévoyant les inspections continues de chaque génération assure le maintien du phénotype traditionnel. Les recensements indiquent que les animaux sont maintenant presque 3000 et que la race se répand au-delà de son territoire d'origine et s'établit un peu partout aux Etats-Unis.

Resumen

Los ovinos Navajo-Churro han contribuido a la subsistencia de tres culturas en el suroeste de los Estados Unidos por casi 400 años. Estas culturas incluyen Navajo (indígena), Hispánica, y Angla. La raza Navajo-Churro casi se extingue entre 1950 y 1970, pero en esos años empezaron varios programas de conservación que salvaron a esta raza única con el esfuerzo de las tres culturas. La Navajo-Churro es una raza criolla distinta, con un vellón de pelo y lana. Este tipo de vellón es muy bueno para la producción de tejidos regionales los cuales son famosos en los EEUU por sus cualidades únicas y su pertinencia cultural. Un sistema de registros incluye inspecciones de cada generación ovina para asegurar que el fenotipo tradicional se mantenga. Los censos de la raza indican que ya hay 3000 animales y que la raza ya se está criando fuera de su terreno original.

Keywords

Navajo-ChurrosheeptextilewoolNavajo-ChurromoutontextilelaineNavajo-Churroovinotextillana
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 45 , October 2009 , pp. 99 - 105
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2009

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