Wehner Homestead

Herd Master
Joined
Nov 28, 2017
Messages
3,492
Reaction score
8,429
Points
443
Location
S Indiana
We are expecting our first Nigerian Dwarf goat kids in January. I'm trying to figure out naming each animal.

With our Cattle, we name each subsequent one with the same first letter as the dam. For example: Maddie has had Mollie, Melody, Maizy, and Mya.

I realize that goats can be much more prolific than cows and want some ideas on what other people do.

Diamond is due first and we thought about gem and precious metal names for that line, as her mother was Pearl. We then have Snowflake and Caramel that are full sisters from different kiddings. Nellie's registered name is Chenille so I can name her Does after different types of material but I just don't know! I can build on both of those but how do I keep adding with their daughters??

Random names that we like are an option but does it get hard to keep the genetic lines straight?

I know some people name with the tattoo letter for the year and others do themes based on the year.

I can't make up my mind and thought I'd see what others do.
 

Southern by choice

Herd Master
Joined
Jun 11, 2012
Messages
13,336
Reaction score
14,682
Points
613
Location
North Carolina
LOL-
Yep can definitely be a challenge.
You're right many use the letter for that year so they always know what year that kid was born.
Others will have the whole herd in a theme for the year.

We have done some themes for the lamanchas. I love the classics so I have Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte, Hester Prynne. Pearl... you get the idea.

Now, it is whatever strikes my fancy. :lol: I still love the Lamanchas having Classic names. Sometimes though someone will just start calling a goat something and it "sticks". This year we had a buck my DD called Kenji. It really grew on me. I love it!
 

Southern by choice

Herd Master
Joined
Jun 11, 2012
Messages
13,336
Reaction score
14,682
Points
613
Location
North Carolina
The other thing to consider is whether you want a say so in the name.
We generally fill out all the paperwork and submit registration papers so they are in hand and just need transferred.
Yes, it costs us.
The advantage is that there are no issues for the buyer to deal with.
I cannot tell you how many times we have been given registration application papers and have sent them in to just have a letter sent back stating that registration "couldn't be processed because blah blah blah...." We have only had 3 sets of papers ever go through without a hitch.
It is very frustrating. This year we had to track down another party for them to send their papers back because the goat they had was incorrectly filed, as was the doe we purchased... mix up on the dams. Thankfully we were able to track the other people down and they were great, the Breeder was embarrassed, Mistakes happen, we get it but what if we would have waited a year before filing? Which, LOL, isn't unusual for us. :p

So, we pay the fees. Register them so if there is a problem WE deal with it, get it corrected, before selling the goat.
On some goats that are heavily discounted we may send applications. There is a limit. ;)
This year we may have to because we plan on placing bottle babies at 2-3 weeks old. The people can take the application with them.


Getting back to the name part... If I already have a deposit etc then usually we ask what they would like the name to be... if we approve then we will go with it. We have seen some pretty raunchy names and there is no way I want my farm name attached to something raunchy, vulgar, or flat out ridiculous. I also will not approve a name that I plan on using.
 

babsbag

Herd Master
Joined
May 10, 2010
Messages
7,886
Reaction score
9,317
Points
593
Location
Anderson, CA
I use the tattoo letter for the year as the first letter of a name. I have friends that use the bucks initials in front of the kids name. I find that I remember the names more easily if it is one that actually fits them and not just name starting with the correct letter but I still do the tattoo letter. This year is K and I am keeping a lot of does so going to be tough, may have to change my naming strategy.
 

animalmom

Herd Master
Joined
Dec 19, 2009
Messages
1,958
Reaction score
2,231
Points
343
Location
North Central Texas
I try to give the doelings a rhyming name to the dam... Little Girl had Pearl. I give the bucklings names that start with the first letter of the dam. Pearl had a buckling named Pan.

Most of the time it works for me as it depends on what it sounds to my ear. Irene, who is often called Rene-E had Sabrina who iI call Sabrine-E.

It helps me remember who's related to who. Pearl is hopefully pregnant for April and if she has doelings they will get gem names... then again she could have another buckling, sigh.
 

Goat Whisperer

Herd Master
Joined
Dec 19, 2013
Messages
4,832
Reaction score
6,567
Points
463
Location
North Carolina
This year we had to track down another party for them to send their papers back because the goat they had was incorrectly filed, as was the doe we purchased... mix up on the dams. Thankfully we were able to track the other people down and they were great, the Breeder was embarrassed, Mistakes happen, we get it but what if we would have waited a year before filing? Which, LOL, isn't unusual for us. :p
Thankfully, in this case we caught it quickly and I was able to get in contact with the other party (thanks FB & ADGA member services!). Sadly, this person died in a horrific car accident just a few months later , leaving behind his wife & children (and another on the way). :hit If we had waited on registering the goat, we probably would never been able to get papers on her. (I would feel horrible, asking someone to correct goat papers while dealing with her husband's death)


Back to the naming- I have thought of doing themes but nothing has really stuck. I was going to name CarolinaGirl's kids after NC city's, but they were born early on 8/21 --> solar eclipse kids… so named them Totality & Eclipse. Same thing with every other kid born here LOL


Oh, I just remembered that we kinda have a theme for Ruby the Nubian & her daughters.
Her first doe (with us that is) is Amber, then Emerald & Sapphire, and now Bluebelle. Named partly after a world record setting Sapphire in Asia (?). But her sire is also Blue Print, out of renowned SGCH IRON-OWL BLUEBEARD 92 EEE so we wanted to include "Blue" in her name. :)


But I also don't have an issue keeping track of all the lines & genetics, so a theme isn't needed for that purpose.
 

Wehner Homestead

Herd Master
Joined
Nov 28, 2017
Messages
3,492
Reaction score
8,429
Points
443
Location
S Indiana
@Goat Whisperer I used to be able to keep everyone straight for generations back...well enough to make my dad and grandpa drag out old records and pictures to verify what I remembered on our cows growing up. I now have a very busy life and with my youngest, I don't sleep much and when I do, I don't rest well. My memory hasn't been keeping up like I wish it would. I try to write everything down but I'm trying to figure out ways to make it easier on myself.

Another confusing aspect is that some of our Cattle registries require different letters for 2018 (the Maine Anjou Association is F), making it even more difficult to keep track of livestock by the year.

I think stressing about their names is more of a way for me to not stress about their actual arrival. Our first experience with the Nigees was less than favorable and I'm praying things go well this time. One consolation is that Diamond has kidded triplets before. I was also one of those people that stressed a lot about choosing the appropriate name for my kiddos.

On a another note, Diamond supposedly belongs to DS. I'd like to keep a buckling if she has one and he came up with name "Jackson" on his own. He's not quite 4 so I thought that was pretty good. I may let DS choose that name and go with something similar for the doelings.
 

Wehner Homestead

Herd Master
Joined
Nov 28, 2017
Messages
3,492
Reaction score
8,429
Points
443
Location
S Indiana
I'm a planner. I'd feel better if I could make a drawn out plan of several options before I make my decision. At the same time I don't want the name to not fit the animal either though...:barnie
 

Baymule

Herd Master
Joined
Aug 22, 2010
Messages
33,092
Reaction score
98,655
Points
873
Location
East Texas
I just pull names out of thin air, or my grand daughter names them. But they are cross bred sheep, not registered. Had twin lambs born Dec15, ewe lamb is spotted black on white, her name is Domino. Ram lamb will be cut and named Dinner. :lol:
 

Wehner Homestead

Herd Master
Joined
Nov 28, 2017
Messages
3,492
Reaction score
8,429
Points
443
Location
S Indiana
I just pull names out of thin air, or my grand daughter names them. But they are cross bred sheep, not registered. Had twin lambs born Dec15, ewe lamb is spotted black on white, her name is Domino. Ram lamb will be cut and named Dinner. :lol:


We are feeding out 3 pigs right now. The kids named the last group after characters in a movie and seemed more upset about them leaving so this time they are Ham, Bacon, and Sausage!
 

Latest posts

Top