Valuable registered livestock must have great names. Names of value, power, depth and symbolism can add recognition and make cattle memorable, and, to the opposite, poor name choices can reduce value.
When the day comes to fill out registration applications some families get a little testy, argumentative, or down right serious about an animal's name. Registration identity may last, not only a life time, but remain in pedigree records for ever and continue to add or decrease value of an animal and its calves even long after it passes.
The legendary Texas Longhorn producer, Frank Doherty always dreaded naming cattle. At one time he used his own name for his animals, the famous Doherty 698, Doherty 9 and a host of others. It worked OK for the really great cattle, but soon some really low-end embarrassing progeny were raised "packing" his famous seal of approval, the Doherty name. Frank was ashamed that his name was on these bottom-end cattle so he stopped that process immediately.
Frank still had a problem. He was having about 50 registrable calves a year so he started naming the heifers "Miss Nevada," "Miss Colorado," and quickly used up all the states. Their calves became "Miss Las Vegas," and "Miss Denver" and that went on for a while. He always dreaded naming cattle.
Although Frank fought with naming for years, others still have a problem with it. Follow along and take a look at just a few of the many systems of naming for value. Take a second look at names on paper when naming your calves, this is just another make it or break it factor. Name recognition is sometimes everything, even in cattle.
Historically the dominant early names on the records were from the Wichita Refuge. At one time over half the registered names reflected the WR prefix and a number. They started with number one and each animal thereafter went up a number. The government likes numbers, but not all cowboys can remember numbers. A cow named a number has to be very special to remember the number. Today there are over four thousand WR numbered cattle. After a period of time people would rename the WR cattle removing the prefix and numbered names. The famous cow Measles was originally WR 2849, but no one remembers her number.
For many reasons, short is best. The longer a name, the more likely it is to become a shortened "nickname." Nicknames become frustrating to alphabetically find. A well known nickname may not be the real name at all. In the case of a famous World Champion Cow known as "Lady Zee" her real name on the registration certificate was "Circle D 2 WR Lady Zee." Long names are confusing and even more difficult to squeeze down on an ear tag. Short names are easy to remember, find in files, maybe not spell but that can be fixes as well, makes names that are easy to name calves after also. Naming a heifer calf after her sire and dam always makes its easy to remember who that calf is out of; bulls, well they stand on their own.
Pedigree attachment names have been the most popular. The bull Winchester was the main origin of cattle who carry the "Win" word as part of their name. Literally thousands of cattle have been named with an "Win" somewhere in the name. It is an attached code that tells everyone that this animal traces back to Winchester. There is some kind of unwritten code that if your animal doesn't trace to Winchester, don't use the word.
The pedigree attachment system may combine more than one code word. Perhaps "Win Over" could be a name for progeny tracing to Win Win and Over the Top. It is an easy, at-a-glance identity to a pedigree or family of cattle known by consistent names.
Time and thought of names should be very important on calves that are of value, think of names all year, jot them down and if a name fits a calf use it!
Authority names have always been popular, like Churchill, Senator, Gunman, Commander, Super Bowl, Sittin Bull, Coach, Emperor, and Top Caliber. Often a new and non-attachment name is used for a prospective great specimen that will forge out their own new personal legacy.
Celebrities provide an excellent name recognition like John Wayne, Eastwood, Cindy Crawford, Paladin, Lone Ranger, but certainly not Pee Wee Herman.
Steers have their own naming system. Due to their derogatory surgery many have been named after unpopular politicians like Bill, George, Barack, Sadam, Jimmy, and Harry. It depends on your own political slant.
Prefix names are often used with Angus and other beef breeds, but are not as popular with Texas Longhorns or high priced horses. More names are changed for the purpose of removing a prefix than any other reason. If a code initial is desired, many are changing to the end of the name in order not to create an alphabetical headache when searching for a name. The code still works behind the name and is less likely to get changed in the official record
Plan on naming valuable cattle names with value. It will affect their auction value and their national recognition. The right name can make or break the future of your program, this is the sad truth, good names can mean good prices and reputation down the road; bad names, well they can mean disaster. Ask family or friends for name ideas if you are drawing a blank, don’t over think it.
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Written by Darol Dickinson