The breeding programme for the Spanish Churra sheep breed is presented. It was designed in 1984 and started in 1986, coordinated by the National Association of Breeders of Selected Churra Sheep (ANCHE) with technical support from the Department of Animal Production of the University of Leon. Out of a census of over 1.7 million animals, 26,000 ewes in 87 herds had their productions recorded in 1994. The programme progeny tests 50 rams per year. To achieve this 11,334 laparoscopic and 4,660 cervical inseminations were performed in 1994. Rams on test are donors to 50 per cent of the inseminations, the rest are done with semen from 10-15 rams with top estimated breeding values (EBVs) in previous editions of the Sire Catalogue. The genetic evaluation is performed by means of an animal model accounting for repeated measurements and using BLUP methodology. Infrastructure available, scientific and technical support, costs and first results are described.