Raising Navajo-Churro sheep
Living the Country Life Radio Program with Betsy Freese
Radio interview source: Connie Taylor, Navajo-Churro Sheep Association
On our farm, we cross Dorset ewes with Hampshire rams to produce lambs that grow fast and yield a good meat product.
But, the centuries-old Navajo-Churro are known for wool. They have a long, greaseless protective top coat and a soft undercoat. The sheep are toned in 14 colors, from white through every hue of brown, black, and gray. The wool is used primarily for weaving outer garments, rugs and blankets. Lamb fleece wool makes terrific socks and sweaters.
Connie Taylor with the Navajo-Churro Sheep Association says they're a small animal, which means you can have more of them per acre and they eat less.
"I feed my sheep little to no grain," Taylor says. "And I feed pretty much straight grass hay. I cut ditch-bank weeds and so on with a hand scythe, and my sheep can raise twins on just straight forage."
As desert sheep, Navajo-Churros survive on less-than-perfect forage and provide good brush control. And they only graze about one-third of the day, as compared to meat breeds that munch all day.
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