Naming a Goat & Herd Names

A goat’s name identifies the breeder as well as its individual name. Understanding the parts of goat’s name will help you name your animals and understand something about a goat when you see its name.

 Example:  CHANCE ACRES (breeder’s Herd Name) Starlight (individual goat name)

The whole goat’s name, including the Herd Name plus the Individual Name cannot be longer than 30 characters. This is partly so the whole name fits on the Registration Certificate as well as for ease of writing and saying the name.

Name is Permanent After Registration

Goats always keep their original name given by the breeder and when they were registered. Subsequent owners can, of course, give them nicknames or call names, but the goat’s registered name cannot be changed. This is how to keep track of lineage, which makes it possible to determine inbreeding percents as well as our rare lines percentages.

For example, if a goat’s name changed 4 times throughout its life when going from one owner to another, it would become nearly impossible to know who that goat really is and their lineage. 

Herd Name Identifies the Breeder

The Herd name used is always the Herd Name of the registered owner of the doe at the time of breeding. The person who owned the dam at the time the doe was bred is the breeder. Therefore, it is the breeder’s Herd name that becomes a permanent part of the offspring’s name, even though the offspring may have been born at a different farm, as in the case where a pregnant doe is sold to a new owner. (For example, Phoebe is owned and bred by Happe Acres (Herd name). She is then sold, pregnant, to Joe Smith, whose herd name is Land o’Lakes. When she has her kids, the kids are named and registered with the Happy Acres herd name: Happy Acres Candy and Happy Acres Jolene.)

A Herd name is approved by the SCIGBA Registry. This ensures that a new one is not too similar one already in use. It needs to be approved for SCIGBA standards, including not being too long as mentioned above (We recommend about 15 characters for herd names). Owning a Herd name is an important part of building your reputation and recognition as a breeder.

When you become a Member of the SCIGBA, you submit a Herd name as part of the membership application. To ensure a Herd name is available, you can call the SCIGBA Registry at (660-851-0101).

There is a way for people to obtain a Herd name without becoming a member – see our website under “Non Member Enrollment”. (3 Non-Member Enrollment) 

If a breeder needs to change their herd name, they can send this form along with a work order and the $15 to the SCIGBA Registry. From the date of this application, the breeder relinquishes all rights to the previous herd name and will no longer be able to register goats under their previous herd name. Also note that changing herd names never changes the names of previously registered goats. Once a goat is named, it keeps that name forever.