Dear All:
I was so glad to find this message board, and all of the information! I can't wait to read through!
My husband, my son and I have a small farm outside of Raleigh, NC. I don't work if you don't count caring for 5 horses (an Egyptian Arabian, 3 gaited horses, and a 24 year old Paint), 2 dozen chickens, 2 new ND pregnant does, 2 Bearded Collies, one cat, 2 big men, and an acre of garden.
Our herdname was just accepted through ADGA as Oakmarsh (we have a pond, a marsh and 50 bazillion OLD Oaks). In fact, I'm currently starting the reintroduction of cranberries to N.C. on 2 acres of our freshwater "marsh".
Back to my new girls, I had no idea they'd steal our hearts so quickly. Both does are 4-5 years old and this is their 3rd time being Moms. One is due April 7th, the other April 10th and they are SO different. The breeder said it was normal for them, though. Accuracy looks like a whale and has a half filled udder (due April 7th), and Suthrn Charm only is a bit round with large teats. I've felt movement on both does right side...I think! I was told that Charm was like that last time and delivered 2, where were they hiding? She's a very tiny ND.
Sorry to get side tracked, but my question is about names. It was suggested that Accuracy's kids be given a name in following with her line. Is this an absolute? Her mother's name was Metronome, so she was Accuracy. She is bred to a "Brat", what about his name? So, my question is: How do you decide the names of YOUR kids? Charm is bred to a "Dash Riprock", very cute little man with a topknot and blue eyes.
Thanks so much!
Kimberly
Replies
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
Ah, yes, I'm always forgetting about the buck's contribution. Well, I just shorten their name and throw it at the beginning of the registered name -- such as AOF Peg's Aphrodite. Pegasus was the sire, and her mother was Andromeda (Greek goddess). I know one herd who incorporated three letters from the sire's name into the kid's name. Made for some very interesting names! They had one named Bred Dough -- sire was Red-something, and the mother had a food theme. The kid's call name was Doe-doe. We have a doe from that sire, and she is named Red Caboose, because she happens to be red, and her mother had a transportation theme. I would have gone crazy trying to make that work, but it was really cool. Anytime I see a kid from them that has "red" in its name, I know it had the same sire as Caboose.
And, yes, the kids should have your herd name, and you can choose the names because you made the breeding decision and bought them. The previous owner wasn't advertising already-bred does for sale.
Kimberly Martin said:
Yes, Deborah! It makes sense. I bought the does, chose the bucks (with assistance) and picked them up after they'd "visited", so I believe they will get the new name? I see what you mean about keeping them straight. What about the sires? Are they of little importance in the name scheme? For example: If my Suthrn Charm has a doe from Dash Riprock, I could name her Elly May to remind me (especially if she is her mother's color)..I presume the Clampetts were Southerners...
Thanks so much, this sort of knowledge will help in years to come!
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
Welcome to the group! You sound busy! We have a homestead where we grow most of our own food, and the goats provide all of our dairy products -- well, they provide the milk, and we make the dairy products. :)
As for names -- if you bought the does bred, then they will carry the herd name of the owner at the time they were bred, UNLESS you said you would buy them bred and chose the buck to whom they were bred. Basically, the person making the breeding decision is considered the "owner" at the time of breeding, so if you made the breeding decision, it is your breeding and will carry your herd name. I hope that makes sense! If they carry the herd name of the previous owner, then she can name them, so you have to go with whatever her theme is. If they carry your herd name, you can do whatever you want. Some people name all their kids starting with the tattoo letter for the year -- so this year, there will be a lot of B babies. Some people have themes like the person who sold you your does. We also have themes, although a little different.
Here's an example from our herd: Carmen is named after the opera, and all of her babies are named after opera characters. Carmen got her name because her mother, Dancy, had a musical theme, so all of her babies were named after something musical. One of Carmen's daughters is Lizzie Borden -- yes, there was an opera about Lizzie Borden. Lizzie's babies are named after outlaws. One of her daughters is Bonnie Parker, and Bonnie's babies will follow a Great Depression theme. Bonnie's daughter is Eleanor Roosevelt, and her babies will be named after first ladies. Get the idea? Why do we do this? To keep everyone straight! People are always commenting on how they don't know how I can keep all the names and pedigrees straight on nearly 30 goats. Well, I wouldn't if I didn't have some sort of system. Not only can I keep straight who's who on the farm, but I will also recognize names of goats that are sold. So, if someday I see one of my goats on a show list or a milk test list, I'll immediately know who the parents were just by looking at the name.