SENATE MEMORIAL 25

57th 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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