HOUSE MEMORIAL 77

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Kelly K. Fajardo

A MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING THE NEW MEXICO DAHL HAIR SHEEP'S INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE TRADITION AND HERITAGE OF NEW MEXICO COMMUNITIES AND REQUESTING THE CREATION OF A TASK FORCE TO STUDY WAYS TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE ALL NEW MEXICO HERITAGE BREEDS OF LIVESTOCK.

     WHEREAS, the first domesticated livestock were introduced into what is now the United States of America through the kingdom of Nuevo Mexico between the years 1540 and 1598, respectively, by Francisco Vásquez de Coronado and Don Juan de Oñate and company; and

     WHEREAS, Coronado and Oñate contributed to the deeply important Spanish tradition of ranching; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico dahl hair sheep continue to play an integral role in the tradition and heritage of New Mexico communities; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico dahl hair sheep have precipitously declined in number and are perilously close to extinction; and

     WHEREAS, it is of critical importance to restore the numbers of New Mexico dahl hair sheep and bring their population to levels that ensure the future survival of this heritage breed;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the house of representatives ask that the New Mexico dahl hair sheep be recognized as a New Mexico heritage breed; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a task force be created to study New Mexico's ranching heritage and make recommendations on prudent measures to protect and preserve all New Mexico heritage breeds of livestock for future generations of New Mexicans and that the task force present its findings to the appropriate legislative interim committee; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the director of the New Mexico department of agriculture, New Mexico wool growers, incorporated, the New Mexico cattle growers' association and the New Mexico dahl sheep foundation.

- 2 -