STUDY NM DAHL HERITAGE SHEEP

SM025

SENATE MEMORIAL 25

57
th legislature
- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -
second session
, 2026

INTRODUCED BY

Elizabeth "Liz" Stefanics

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH TO CONDUCT A
HISTORICAL STUDY ON SHEEP DESCRIBED AS "NEW MEXICO DAHL
HERITAGE SHEEP" LOCATED ON THE TERRA PATRE HERITAGE FARM AND
RANCH IN BELEN AND TO REPORT ITS FINDINGS ON WHETHER THE SHEEP
ARE OF HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE TO NEW MEXICO AND ITS
RECOMMENDATIONS ON MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION OF THE SHEEP TO
THE APPROPRIATE INTERIM LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.

WHEREAS, Donald A. Chavez y Gilbert, a sixteenth-generation rancher, has sought for about forty years to
interest members of the public and politicians alike in a rare
herd of sheep he describes as "New Mexico Dahl heritage sheep"
that are located on the Terra Patre heritage farm and ranch in
Belen; and

WHEREAS, according to Mr. Chavez y Gilbert, the sheep are
a living history of the land and a potent reminder of when the
sheep trade was king in the land of enchantment; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Chavez y Gilbert claims that the sheep are
descendants of livestock brought to the territory in the 1500s
by the earliest Spanish settlers; and

WHEREAS, in particular, Mr. Chavez y Gilbert believes the
sheep are genetically tied to the "lost sheep of Coronado", a
collection of sheep that went astray centuries ago during the
missions of Francisco Vazquez de Coronado on his search for the
seven golden cities of Cibola in present-day New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, the university of California has indicated that
genetic testing of the sheep definitively shows that the sheep
are most closely related to two ancient breeds from Spain, the
Xisqueta and Ripollesa, and that the results support the
hypothesis that the sheep descend from original Spanish settler
sheep that subsequently have been feralized;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE
OF NEW MEXICO that the department of game and fish be requested
to conduct a historical study on the sheep described by Mr.
Chavez y Gilbert as "New Mexico Dahl heritage sheep" and report
its findings on whether the sheep are of historical importance
to New Mexico and its recommendations on management and
preservation of the sheep to the appropriate interim
legislative committee by October 15, 2026; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
transmitted to the director of the department of game and fish
and the appropriate interim legislative committee.

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