[Brucklay]

One of our call duck didn't have a name and all the rest did so we called her 'Clint'.

[princesspiggy]

tho i did have a pig called "robert" named after the ex-husband, who thot it was a compliment until we told him we were gona slaughter it. hopefully that sunk in!! 

[FiB]

Pork, Bacon, Apple and Arrow (guess which ones we WERNT planning on eating), much loved during their time with us,  are all in the butchers at the moment

Lola is a pet 'lamb' (a whoppping giant of a yearing) and the other 14 sheep have yet to get their names - I agree that often they ARE their names and so far they are one amorphous mass.

Perry the cockrel looks after POL's Bendi and Gedig (Bendigedig is welsh word for fantastic), and the 4 ex bats are also too diffiecult to tell apart at the moment  (there is a 'baldy' but I expect that to be a temporary name!)

When they all have names, then I will know that I know them and that I am doing the best that I can do, if that makes sense.

[SallyintNorth]

One of our call duck didn't have a name and all the rest did so we called her 'Clint'.

Can't believe I didn't think of that for The Other Porker.

And yes, I give thanks when eating too - although I have to do it silenty as BH, the lifelong farmer, doesn't like to be reminded...

Most producers I've met have a deep regard for the animals they work with everyday, sometimes more so than the two legged variety

Yep, that's my experience too - although in these parts folks are extremely neighbourly so I couldn't say the latter part!

tho i did have a pig called "robert" named after the ex-husband, who thot it was a compliment until we told him we were gona slaughter it. hopefully that sunk in!! 

Very very mean.  I would never call a pig Stupid W4**k$r 

[Small Farmer]

Same story. We agreed not to give the animals names but it happened anyway because they named themselves.  It doesn't cause us a moment's pause when they're about to set off on the great sheepie career change but most of our friends think it's odd. 

We see it as our job to look after each of them to the best of our ability and it's easier with a name than a tag number you can't see.  But the objective doesn't change.

[Brucklay]

And yes I name too many sheep too - but in a way it is a way of having a conversation with OH about how they are all doing - I don't go out to name the one 'who are going to go' but they sort of end up with names - it's more of a case of from the moment they are born you know they are going to leave but it doesn't stop them having a great life for that time, with all the tlc they need. Breeding goats and lamb do get name but the boys always end up with a name of sorts.

[Bangbang]

I think its just natural for us to name things - We name our houses, cars, boats, etc.
Naming something is a statement of possession. so I think if were going to kill something we possess,
at least we should give it the dignity of a name. Even in the field we identify them by a number or
colour or just there nature.
If we didn't name our beasties life would be dull.

[Sudanpan]

We had Clean Face, Earring, Tear Drop and Headspot for our weaners the 1st year
Last year we had RC (right cheek), Goldie and BC (black chest)
We get our tamworth x large whites soon so some new names to be created 
Haven't named the chooks cos I'm afraid I can't tell them apart!

Then there's Terry (the tractor), Dave (the digger) Martin (the mower) Robee (our transit - to do with the company name and the reg number) Landy (duh the landrover! - when we bought it the name was Brenda the Defender but I couldn't hack the name Brenda!)

 

[MAK]

Great to see such a response to my original question.
I'dont feel strongly about the naming thing but as a novice I thought it would be easier for me to dispatch a duck etc rather than cut "Ethels" head off or shoot "Florence" .
As someone said - it is not easy looking after and caring for an animal then killing it but i I must say that once the deed has been done then I just get on with the practical matters. Eating "Ethel" could maybe cause me difficulties.
I think my pigs are happy to get their grub regardless of me affectionately calling them each "Pig"  or giving them a name. They like to play as much as I do but I don't think that they have given me a name. maybe I am called oink grub"  .

[little blue]

Great to see such a response to my original question.
I'dont feel strongly about the naming thing but as a novice I thought it would be easier for me to dispatch a duck etc rather than cut "Ethels" head off or shoot "Florence" .

just call her "dinner!"
we talked about 'eating Murphy burgers and sausages' well before we had any pigs to eat (Murphy's offspring)
my o/h is much happier eating our pork than our chicken, and is still funny about quail eggs...
Everybody's different I suppose

[Miss Piggy]

We name all our animals apart from some of the poultry, telling the difference between 18 warrens is difficult, but the odd one that has a distinguishing feature gets a name and the other breeds are all named. Just does not seem right to devote so much time and care to a nameless animal. Knowing from the start that an animal is destined for the freezer does seem to make the parting easier whereas having no name wouldn't make any difference to that. It feels more dignified and caring to name them. We have friends that say "how could you name them and then eat them" seems odder to me not to name them. Poor old Jo a barren cow had to go to market today and it felt much kinder saying "bye bye Jo you've had a good life" than sending a nameless cow that we would have cared just as much for. We usually make sure we put at least 2 of each in the freezer at anyone time so although we know the names of those in the freezer we dont know which particular pig or sheep etc the particular joint of meat is from. That makes it less personal to us. 

[Womble]

It's so gratifying to hear that the rest of you are just the same as me, but come on folks, think of all those un-named tow hitches out there (they have personalities too!) 

Even the sheep farmer next door has gotten in on the act - I know from hearing it called many times in a weekend, that his border collie is called "Oh for F***ks Sake Floss!". Not exactly snappy, but it seems to work for him 

[robate55]

Some of our sheep have names but they are mainly descriptive -  Wooly top, Mother of triplets etc. Animals who are not staying tend to have 'different' names. I had a Clint Pusswood who ended up not staying for 14 years, Deefa dog never quite got rehomed for 13 years. I also bred a puppy whose puppy name was Bwain (bitch without an interesting name). At present one of the dogs is called Phantom - ' She can't be pregnant its just a Phantom pregnancy'
Rose

[robert waddell]

that faux hat gets everywhere

[benkt]

We're in the 'don't name what you're going to eat' camp. Although 'Dipper the psychotic cockerel' is pushing against this boundary at the moment.

We seem to end up 'naming' the 'eaters' as we have to talk about them - usually when they're ill or being particularly awkward - but its always descriptive names like blackie, wonky, or whatever rather than 'proper names'.

Cars and tractors get names, tow hitches not so much.