Progeny Testing Program for Soay Sheep

Progeny Testing Program

The Progeny Testing Program was designed to allow Soay sheep owners the opportunity to include undocumented Soay sheep into our database and registry. This will allow inclusion of many Soay sheep that have not previously been registered.

A very simple, yet specific strategy must be followed, as described in the bylaws. It is imperative that members select animals that they feel confident will pass the Program, and most importantly, that the sheep in question meet the SOA Breed Description.

An application form for the Progeny Testing Program has been created (click on links below). The first cases have been evaluated and processed by the PTP Committee.

If you have questions about this program that are not already answered on this page, please contact us through one of our forums; the SOAmembers forum you can contact the PTP Committee Chairperson

Bylaws for the Progeny Testing Program:

9.10

PROGENY TESTING: SOA allows for members to determine the integrity of an animal whose background is not known, or whose parents are not registered with SOA, for possible inclusion into the SOA registry and gene pool. The Progeny Testing Program Committee shall consist of 5 members and one alternate, appointed by SOA that are knowledgeable about Soay sheep and committed to currently keeping, breeding and registering American Soay sheep.

Animals initially submitted for Progeny Testing shall be at least one year of age. The owner shall include photos of the front, rear, right and left sides of each sheep to be documented. The photos shall be in color, clear, and close, showing detail of the face, horns if any, color, tail and feet. Distant photos in a field are not acceptable.

The Registrar shall issue a registration with a "P" suffix, to indicate that this sheep is not accepted for registry, but is pending the Progeny Test. This shall be documented in the next Flock Book.

Ewe Progeny Testing requires that a testing ewe be bred to one Soay ram per year for 2 consecutive years. Two rams, unrelated to each other, must be used and the rams must be registered with SOA or enrolled in the SOA Progeny Testing Program. The resulting progeny of each of these breedings shall be documented with both photographic and written records. When the youngest of the resulting progeny are one year of age, the ewe and her progeny from these two breedings will then be subject to approval for registration from the Progeny Testing Program Committee.

A ram to be tested shall be bred to a minimum of 2 ewes. The ewes must be unrelated to each other and must be registered with SOA or enrolled in the SOA Progeny Testing Program. When the youngest progeny of all of these matings reaches one year of age, the ram and his progeny will be subject to approval from the Progeny Testing Program Committee.

The Progeny Testing Committee shall participate by voting for or against sheep pending approval with SOA. A yes vote from three quarters of the Progeny Testing Committee is required for a sheep to pass into the registry. Color photographs of the sheep and its progeny shall be made available to the Progeny Testing Program Committee, via electronic media or any method the Board of Directors deems appropriate. The Progeny Testing Program Committee shall have 10 days to submit their votes for approval or disapproval of the sheep in question into the SOA registry.

Upon successing passing through the Progeny Testing Program, the sheep and progeny, shall be registered with SOA without a "P" suffix, and documentation of this graduation shall be noted in the next Flock Book.

Sheep that fail to pass the Progeny Test shall be removed from the registry, as shall their progeny. This shall be documented in the next Flock Book.

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