Churro Sheep + Kemp = Climate Hero

Kemp…. What is it?

Most people have never heard of kemp. To a Churro sheep, it is one of their “super powers” that make them climate heroes.

Kemp, found in the fleeces of the most primitive sheep around the world, is a hard, brittle, opaque, medullated fiber (possessing a core of air filled cells) found in the fleece of some sheep. It is usually coarser and much shorter than the wool fibers with which it is associated. After growing for a limited time, it is shed and frequently lies loose in the fleece.

Kemp is associated with “unimproved” sheep. Compared with other fibers in the fleece, kemp fiber is short and much more coarse. Unlike modern fleece fibers, kemp contains a hollow air-filled shaft, making it a good insulator that helps protect Churros from extreme temperature fluctuations.

 Protecting the Landrace Genetics

The problem Churro sheep face with modern practices encouraged among contemporary sheep breeders is to promote a fine, soft wool where coarse fiber and kemp are not desirable. Around the world, primitive sheep breeds that do not fit this soft-wool category have disappeared or are being “improved” to breed out the kemp and coarse fibers. Over the years, improving the Churro has meant introducing “more desirable” breeds into the genetics which mostly happened early in the 20th century—the ancestors of these hybrid Churros are still popular, as market logics put pressure on breeders to produce softer fleeces, with little to no kemp.

By doing this we have inadvertently diminished the Churros remarkable adapted traits.

How important is it to a landrace sheep?

We are just beginning to learn the significance of kemp in a churro fleece. One thing is certain: in some isolated small flocks that still retain the evolutionary wisdom of the earliest genetics (found mostly in remnant family flocks in New Mexico and parts of the Colorado Plateau), the two-fiber fleeces (with additional 5-20+% kemp) have a uniqueness not seen in modern fiber fleeces (those with less than 5% kemp) that are popular today.

The most primitive of the Churro have the beautiful silk-like fiber, with kemp, found in the earliest Rio Grande and Navajo weavings.

These unimproved Churro fleeces retain the original-type fibers that, we believe, are seen only in the earliest Rio Grande and Navajo weavings. The characteristics of these fibers are unique to the old-type Churro genetic makeup: super high luster; great feel or “handle,” even though each sheep has a singular varying amount of kemp; a short inner fiber and a long, straight, crimp-free fiber that is considered the strongest among sheep breeds. These fleeces are unique because even though they have an undesirable amount of kemp by modern Navajo-Churro Association standards, they retain a unique high luster and open fleece not seen in most modern churro breeding. We are just beginning to explore how and why these fleeces are special. We are also exploring additional uses of hollow kemp fiber, which also carries its own specialized biome, for soil mitigation, insulation, and water retention—let alone its capacity to assist the Churro in their survival in our changing climate.

Churro Sheep as Climate Heroes?

Kemp as a Super Fiber…

These little “scrub sheep” (as they have been historically referred to) with a beautiful long fleece, can help us find solutions to the climate crisis.

Historically in New Mexico, it was the Churro sheep that dominated the agriculture scene for 500+ years because it adapted and could survive the extreme harsh conditions of traveling long distances without food and water. Presently, besides the distinct way they engage physically with arid terrains, protecting the fragile desert ecosystem by the way they move and graze, we have found compelling research working with Churro fleeces in soil applications. The hollow fiber of kemp has impressive advantages with insulation from extreme temperature fluctuations and water retention. Because of its hollow core, it assists the other Churro fibers in water-transference and water-holding capacity. Unique to a primitive Churro fleece with kemp, the absorption properties change as water is taken in by the fleece. It has shown to be superior to other fibers in its ability to hold moisture in a gaseous state and water transferring properties. We are just finding out about this quality in carbon sequestering and water retention in soil when churro fleeces are used in soil mitigation.

In most sheep fleeces, wool’s natural water-resistance and ability to wick away moisture are among its most impressive qualities, and, to many, its biggest enigma. The main thing to know is that wool adsorbs (yes, “adsorbs” not “absorbs”, that’s different) moisture. Adsorption means that water molecules get trapped in the naturally porous fibers of the fabric versus absorption where water molecules permeate the fabric and are wet to the touch. For wool, because the water is trapped, it doesn’t feel wet to the touch.

But what happens to that moisture?

Inside the fibers, water condenses and releases heat. Meanwhile, the outer layers of individual wool fibers shed water and release moisture into the air as vapor. It all happens thanks to the combination of wool’s cellular structure, biophysical qualities, and chemical properties. We have just begun our discovery of what a Churro’s fleece can do for carbon sequestering, soil mycelium mitigation, and retention of moisture for soil, let alone how it assists the sheep in survival. Also to note is the composition of hair and wool fibers which is made up of Keratin: The protein substance forming the wool fiber is composed of carbon (50.5%), hydrogen (6.8%), nitrogen (16.8 %), oxygen (20.5%), and sulphur (5.4%).

What is significant about the loss of kemp in churro fiber?

The loss of kemp in a Churro fleece—the loss of the primitive traits—means the loss of the genetic wisdom inherent in their evolution. The loss of primitive traits in any landrace species means the loss not only of the unique characteristics that have helped a species adapt in the past, but the loss also of the deep genetic diversity that is the wellspring of survival strategies for the future. This includes all adapted species, plant and animal in their unique biomes.

It’s that simple.