Notice from the keepers of the Open Flockbook Project

We are sorry to report that the pedigree search function on the OFP website is not working. Steve has tried the easy and obvious fixes and none of them have worked. Now he needs your help.

We launched the OFP website in 2005, so the software undergirding the website is a dozen years old. Before Steve undertakes what looks to be a very time-consuming task to repair, upgrade, or replace the software, we need to know whether the effort is worth it, and we can only know that if you let us know:

1. Do you use the OFP website to search pedigrees (specific animals’ ancestors), reverse pedigrees (offspring and their descendants)? Do you use the “trial mating” function? What other parts of the OFP website do you use, e.g., the IDGR registry?

2. If you do not use the OFP website, is there anything we could add that would make it useful enough to bring you to the site?

If it will help you answer these questions, here is the bottom line: there are approximately 3000 American Soay in the database. As far as we can tell, all British Soay born in the US or Canada from 1990 through 2016 (over 2000), including some of those not registered with the RBST, also are in the database. The OFP website and the various search and other functions on the website are completely open to anyone who wants to use them, whether the person owns Soay sheep, is considering owning Soay sheep, or just wants to learn more about the Soay in North America.

Please send me a note letting us know who you are and how you use the OFP. We have no way to know how many people use the website functions, so unless we hear from you, we cannot assess whether the website is still viable. If you know folks who use it but don’t see this note, please spread the word and ask them to contact us. If it turns out the website continues to be used a lot, as it was in the early years, we will do our best to get it back up and running.

While the search function is down, we can still go directly in to the database, which is intact and functional, so if you need to track down a sheep or its ancestors or descendants, we will be glad to help you. Just let us know by email.

Please send your responses to priscilla at saltmarshranch dot com

Thanks for your patience and help!

For now …

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