Algarve Churro is a domesticated
breed
A breed is a specific group of domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist several slig ...
of
sheep
Sheep or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are domesticated, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Although the term ''sheep'' can apply to other species in the genus ''Ovis'', in everyday usage it almost always refers to domesticated s ...
in
Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...
.
[
] Although this breed does grow
wool
Wool is the textile fibre obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids. The term may also refer to inorganic materials, such as mineral wool and glass wool, that have properties similar to animal wool.
As ...
, it is primarily raised for its
meat
Meat is animal flesh that is eaten as food. Humans have hunted, farmed, and scavenged animals for meat since prehistoric times. The establishment of settlements in the Neolithic Revolution allowed the domestication of animals such as chic ...
.
[
]
Characteristics
Most of the Algarve Churro are white with black spots on the feet and head. However, about 10% of the population are completely black. Both sexes are horned.
Mature rams grow on average to at the withers and weigh . However, ewes grow to at the withers and weigh at maturity.
History
This breed originated from
Andalusian Churro which were imported in the late 19th century.
The population of this breed has been decreasing. In 1996, there were greater than 23,000 and in 2004, there were greater than 1300.
References
Sheep breeds
Sheep breeds originating in Portugal
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