Algarve Churro
Portuguese sheep breed raised for meat, wool, and milk.
The Algarve Churro, also known as the Churra Algarvia, is a Portuguese breed of domestic sheep primarily distributed in the Algarve and Alto Alentejo regions of southern Portugal, especially in the arid Barrocal sub-region of the Algarve. It is raised mainly for its meat, but also for carpet wool, and traditionally for milk used in cheesemaking and for vegetation management. The breed's population has fluctuated, with recent conservation status listed as 'at risk/vulnerable'.
Quick Facts
- Country
- Portugal
- Distribution
- Algarve
- Use
- Meat, wool, milk, vegetation management
- Maleweight
- 75 kg
- Femaleweight
- 55 kg
- Maleheight
- 95 cm
- Femaleheight
- 85 cm
- Horns
- Both sexes are horned
- Facecolor
- White with black markings
- Woolcolor
- Usually white; 10% have black wool
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Algarve Churro's origins are disputed: some sources say it came from Andalusian Churro stock imported between 1870 and 1890, while others consider it an autochthonous variety of the Iberian Churro, with Andalusian varieties native to contiguous Spanish stretches. The breed is mainly found in the district of Faro. Traditionally, it was raised for lean, flavourful meat, milk for cheesemaking, wool for mattress-filling, vegetation management, and to reduce produce waste.
Reader's Guide
The Algarve Churro holds significance as a traditional Portuguese breed adapted to the arid Barrocal sub-region. Its population has declined sharply from over 23,000 in 1996 to over 1,300 in 2004, but recovered to an estimated 7,411–8,252 head by 2024. The breed's conservation status is 'at risk/vulnerable', with a studbook in 2019 listing 64 rams and 1,626 ewes. Its hardiness, lively temperament, and dual-purpose use for meat and carpet wool make it valuable for sustainable agriculture in southern Portugal. The breed's traditional roles in subsistence farming—including milk for cheesemaking and vegetation management—persist, highlighting its cultural and ecological importance.
Did You Know?
- About 10% of the population has black wool.
- Both sexes have ridged horns; rams' horns project outward in wide spirals.
- Mature rams average 95 cm at the withers and weigh 75 kg; ewes average 85 cm and 55 kg.
- The breed has long tails that are broad at the base, though it is not a fat-tailed sheep.
More in Sheep breeds 1-24
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