Navajo-Churro have a double coated wool that is considered a coarse wool. The outer coat is responsible for the coarse classification. It is longer than the inner coat and very straight, almost hair like but it is a wool fiber. This outer coat is what gives the Churro it’s distinctive “drappy” look. The inner, shorter coat is quite fine and very soft. Most people spin the fibers together but if you wanted to produce something from the softer inner coat the outer fiber can be pulled out fairly easily. Myself, that’s too much work!!
The outer coat is very tough and can withstand a great deal of rough treatment. A rug or saddleblanket made with the outer coat included will withstand years of wear that other wools will not. If the outer coat is pulled out it makes an excellent warp yarn that is extremely strong.
Color is one of the reasons that I was initially attracted to the Navajo-Churro. Black, gray, brown, tan, white and everything in between is out there. Our herd contains a little of everything as well.
Raw unwashed wool prices vary depending on color, uniformity, and quality. Generally prices start at $4.00/lb and go as high as $7.00/lb for really exceptional fleeces. Fleeces are heavily skirted as soon as they come off the animal. By doing my own shearing I can skirt the fleece as soon as it comes off the animal. This results in a cleaner more uniform skirting. Due to the heavy skirting most fleeces run between 3-5 pounds of prime wool. I do not coat my animals but they spend most of their time on irrigated pasture. I also believe that the straight outer coat tends to help keep them clean.
