Because of the Navajo-Churro's unique history, it is important to recognize the features that make this sheep breed special. The Navajo-Churro, which was originally classified as a landrace (which is a domesticated, locally adapted, traditional variety of a species of animal or plant that has developed over time through adaptation to its natural and cultural environment of agriculture and pastoralism, and due to isolation from other populations of the species). The isolated desert environment in which it lived allowed the Navajo-Churro to be the dominant livestock for centuries in the southwest and the only domesticated animal that could survive the harsh climate of the El Camino Real de los Tejas trail. This trail linked the Americas and brought the first Spanish settlers to the United States up the Rio Grande valley.

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But what made this breed different than other breeds (besides it's landrace start) in the United States is that it still has it's original role with both the Navajo and traditional shepherds along the Rio Grande and the Sierra Madres mountains in Mexico. The cultural significance of these sheep in these pastoral weaving societies is still viable because of it's unique environmental adaptions, superior wool for weaving and religious significance.

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Ancestrally, the "Churro" or "churra" type sheep was merely referred to as a "scrub" or unimproved type of sheep. Churro, a Spanish origin name, came with the sheep that Coronado and Juan Onate brought with them in their early explorations in the mid-1500s to supply meat and wool needs for the early expeditionary teams from Spain. The Navajo-Churro, although considered an unimproved sheep in Spain, was an improvement when introduced into what is now the Southwestern United States. Over this period, with the Hispanics, Navajos, Tarahumara and other native Indians of the US and Mexico, Navajo-Churro adapted to the extreme climate conditions of the southwest deserts and thrived.

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But as early as 1859, Merino sheep were introduced to the Navajo Shepherds. Then in 1883, Merino rams were introduced by Indian agents in the hope that fewer animals could be bred but of a larger type. Unfortunately, it turned out that the lambs born were too large for the small Navajo-Churro ewe, and even when lambing was successful, the wool had too much crimp and was too greasy to be used in Navajo weaving. In 1903, the Rambouillet was tried with basically the same result.  Other breeds over the years have been introduced (Shropshire, Hampshire, Cotswold, Suffolk, Lincoln and others) with the intent of "improving" on the "unimproved" Navajo sheep. The breeds were changed again and again until in the 1970s, there were few examples of the "old type" Navajo-Churro to be found.  Similar breed pollution for the new wool and meat market was happening throughout the original Navajo-Churro range. Throughout the desert areas in the Americas, the Navajo-Churro was being replaced.

 

Since the 1970s, the Navajo Sheep Project has been devoted to preserving and breeding back the endangered Navajo-Churro sheep, through a systematic and scientific conservation program with the nucleus flock as well as assisting and encouraging traditional flocks with other shepherds around the Southwest. 

 

In actuality, the Navajo-Churro represents the oldest breed type of sheep to be found in America and thus deserves a place in the annals of American agricultural history and human development.  It is significant as one of the key elements or figures in the domestication and civilization of the Southwest United States.