Names in Pedigrees

[SpringChins]

I am probably going to be ripped apart for this, but I really feel that it is an issue that needs to be addressed. I have received a large number of chinchilla pedigrees at this point, and I must admit that I find them highly disappointing.

I am hoping (probably incorrectly) that this may be due simply to a lack of understanding. So I will try to shine a little light on the topic. :sunrise:

I think it may be useful here to review what pedigrees are used for in other species:
1. To show an animal is purebred.
2. Documentation of what individuals this animal is descended from, and who bred those animals. This helps to track health problems, as well as give some idea what quality might be expected.

The first application does not really apply, since there is only one breed of chinchilla. It can show you the presence of ebony in the lineage (which can lead to dirty-bellied kits), but that is about it.

As for the second one, a very large number of pet and hobby breeders are not using unique identifiers in their pedigrees. Instead, they are using "pet names". :(

A pedigree that uses pet names, and doesn't even specify where the animal came from or who bred it, is about as useful at tracking the lineage of an animal as a double-edged knife with no handle is at cutting a steak. IMO, these pedigrees are absolute garbage, not even worth the paper they are printed on.

You might argue "but they do it in dogs." However, dog names are registered and unique. Chinchilla names are only registered and unique if the breeder obtains a brand identification and uses the accepted naming conventions.

It should also be noted that most show dogs also have a "pet" name that isn't necessarily related to their registered name. They seem to get along fine with two names.

There is nothing about the accepted naming conventions that diminishes the value of the chinchilla as a pet. Carson doesn't know that he is also referred to as "QS R16" on his pedigree. All he knows is that he is loved, and that everyone calls him "Carson."

What should really cause chinchilla hobby and pet breeders to bow their heads in shame is the fact that rats have better pedigrees than chinchillas: rat pedigrees include the brand identification of the breeder for every single ancestor (SRR Chilly, Sire was RMA Boe, Dam was SRR Dot, etc). This means that a $20 animal (that's what you usually pay if they have a pedigree) has a better pedigree than something breeders expect their customers to spend $80 or more on. :eek:

IMHO, breeders should be obtaining a brand identification before the first kit is born, and should include the "official" names of all animals on the pedigree. It is up to them whether or not they also want to include the pet name.

Your thoughts? If you use "pet names" on your pedigrees, why? If you don't have a registered brand identification (costs $5), why?

Are you considering changing your practices after reading this? Why or why not?

~June~

[Kmammone]

As for the second one, a very large number of pet and hobby breeders are not using unique identifiers in their pedigrees. Instead, they are using "pet names".



I put both, but my software allows me to do this. Some people do not have ranch brands ( I do, for the record), so they can't put the type of identifier that ranchers can.
I have a bigger issue with people who will not put animals on a pedigree beyond who was bred at their "ranch". Like they won't put in the parents of the parents unless they were born at their place.
As for pet names, if you have the pedigree from "susan smith" (fake name), then you know that this animal is "susan smith's fluffy" or whatever the name is. That still identifies where it came from. If "susan smith" didn't write that in on the pedigree, you can. Name or number, it still says who the animal is. Why would having it say "RJV234" mean any more than "Susan Smith's Fluffy"? As long as it's unique?
I know a very large breeder who only uses names, and I can talke to others who have bought from her and we know if our animals are related or not by the names, just like we would by the numbers. What difference does it make?

[FurryFriends]

"I know a very large breeder who only uses names, and I can talke to others who have bought from her and we know if our animals are related or not by the names, just like we would by the numbers. What difference does it make?"

I have peds like this also from a big breeder. She has names and numbers. It's easy to tell who is related to who.

Before I got SBC as my ranch brand, I still wrote the year and number of each kit born. My name is on the ped. So you could very easily tell it came from me, which year it was born and it's number.

[Kansas City Chinchillas]

My pedigrees are very thorough. All ancestors as far back as known are included as well as color and ranch brands.

[Chingal]

I agree alot of my line came from a very well known breeder and just YESTERDAY a gal called me and was looking at getting a mate for her chin well geuss what going by NAMES only and whom she purchased the animal from we found out the chin she was looking at was related.
From a pet end 3 years ago very few pet breeders were using numbers, showing, etc. We were all breeding OUR chins for what we liked and names worked just fine. I think everyone needs to remember that it has been in VERY recent history that hobbyists started getting ranch brands, numbering their animals, buying from ranchers,etc. before we got names and colors from other hobbyists that were breeding. The chin world is evolving rapidly towards a more rancher based etiquette with pedigrees and with showing and I think we all need to remember that.

[Virginia]

So do you guys keep a book of all your chins names, so you dont reuse one later on?

Virginia

[lilchinchilla]

I have a ranch brand and have had it for quite a while. I guess 3 or so years now. Before that(and even now) I went by names and all my chins have unique names. No one gets named the same name as another chin ever at least here.

I suppose if it came down to figuring out who's chin was "Fluffy" on the pedigree, ask the person you bought the chin from. There is a way to trace names though. I mean there are some chins I only went by names before(because like mentioned before hobby breeders did not all use a ranch brand and whatnot), and if people mention that name of the chin to me, I am not forgetful and know who the chin came from and if the chin is here or whatnot.
Nowadays my pedigrees not only include names but numbers.
I have a bigger issue with people who will not put animals on a pedigree beyond who was bred at their "ranch". Like they won't put in the parents of the parents unless they were born at their place.
I agree there!

[Chingal]

I have recently reused a couple of my favorite names, but as said I have a ranch brand now and numbers and the chins are totally different colors as well , so they will not match.

[Kmammone]

I think everyone needs to remember that it has been in VERY recent history that hobbyists started getting ranch brands, numbering their animals, buying from ranchers,etc. before we got names and colors from other hobbyists that were breeding. The chin world is evolving rapidly towards a more rancher based etiquette with pedigrees and with showing and I think we all need to remember that.

That is a very good point. I know I had to go to ECBC at the time I got my brand to get a brand that I wanted instead of just numbers and letters. I believe now you can do this from MCBA as well. But, it wasn't long before I got mine that I probably wouldn't have been able to even do that, being a "pet breeder"

So do you guys keep a book of all your chins names, so you dont reuse one later on?

I do not reuse names.

My name as well as my ranch name and brand are on my pedigrees and at least the seller's name is usually on a pedigree. If its not, I write it on there myself when I get a chin so that I'll know for myself.

I use Evans software, which tracks all of this for me, and for those I get that don't have ranch brands, I enter them as if they did, so the name would say "Susan's Fluffy" or whatever they named it, but with the breeder I can identify on there.

I have several pedigrees from ranchers that didnt' come with the ranch brand or name on them. When I didn't know the brand, I used the person's name.

I also put the colors and all winnings from each generation on my pedigrees. Most don't even put color though.

[FurryFriends]

I try to be as throrough as I can be also. They have all of the info I have written on each pedigree. Their brand and number, color, name (mostly for my own animals, but if there are names in their background I include them also). If they were shown, I'll list the year, place shown, and what they received.

My peds go back to great grandparents also.