To Name Or Not To Name, That Is The Question.
There is a bit of a controversy out there about whether or not to name your farm animals. Personally, I can’t imagine raising an 
animal without giving it a name. But you hear all the time, “You don’t name food”. I think there is merit on both sides, so let’s explore the pros and cons.
Why NOT TO Name Your Farm Animals
First, there is the “gospel according to the red queen”. In “Through the Looking-Glass” by Louis Carroll, when Alice was introduced to the mutton, she was then told by the red queen “it is not good etiquette to cut any one you have been introduced to”.
OK, I guess we don’t have to go by the red queen’s rules. But a lot of other people think it will be a lot harder to kill and eat something you have named. And this seems to be the only reason I can find to support not naming your animals. But is it really that much harder? You still feed and water and take care of that same animal every day. Does having a name make that much difference? It seems to make a difference to the animal.
Why Name Your Farm Animals
On the other hand, there are very practical reasons for naming farm animals. Even those you intend to eat.
- Identification – It takes a lot more time to say “the pig with the spots on his shoulder. No, the other one”, then it does to say “George”. And with a name the animal is positively identified.
- You tend to use a different tone when you use a name. Animals will react differently to this. They tend to be calmer and more peaceful. Fewer stress hormones are a good thing.
- Studies have shown animals produce better when they have names. This study from the UK showed that cows with names produced 3.4% more milk than those without names.
Is There A Middle Ground To Naming Your Farm Animals?
Some people like to name their food animals “food” names, in the hopes that it will keep in mind that they are food, not pets. Names like “Pork Chop” or “Stew” or “Drum Stick” are just a few ideas. Does it help? I think that depends on the person.
Is there a right or wrong answer here? Absolutely Not! It is definitely a personal preference. This was only an exercise in “Food for thought”. We all have a different drummer. And that’s OK. Whether you choose to name your food or not, raising your own food is a wonderful way to know what is going into your body. And knowing that your animal was raised humanly is also very important.
As for me, “I’m late, I’m Late, for a very important date.” I’m headed out to feed Lacy, Mo, Angel, Susie, Blackie, Droop, Hans Solo, and of course Chewbacca. Let me know what you think about naming your food, or what clever names you have come up with.
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And Have a Ducky Day!
Mary is a gardener, backyard homesteader, and duck wrangler. She is also the owner and writer of LifeIsJustDucky.com and AGoodWordADay.com. (for daily devotions) Mary is passionate about helping others expand their backyard homesteading skills and learn to be more self-sufficient, no matter where they live.
I read your article 10 reasons not to raise ducks. It was very informative and gives me some time to really think to see if ducks are for me. Thank you for the tips.
So glad you found it useful. So often we jump into things without getting all the facts. It’s good to find out from someone who has done it. Thanks for stopping by.