Farm and Garden.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 86, 12 June 1908, Page 3

Farm and Garden.

Ju-igmg & Sheep's Age

The age of sheep is generally determined by an examination of the front teeth, or nippers. There are eight of these, and the permanent ones appear in regular order in supplanting the milk teeth. The rniil: teeth can always be distinguished from the permanent ones by the fact that they are narrower. The permanent incisors are broad and wide, and widened considerably towards the top. Henry Stewart, author of " The Domestic Sheep," gives the following ages for replacement of the various pairs of front teeth: IV 2 years; 2%. years; lli years; 4% years. He says further: " After the fifth year the sheep is known as to its age by the full mouth, and as age increases by the wearing of the teeth. But this is not altogether a sure guide, for a flock pasturing on a poor pasture or sandy soil quickly wear down its cutting teeth, and they will appear to be so blunt as to indicate a mnch greater age. This is to be taken into account, and the general appearance in other respects must also be taken into account. This, however, is not of much account practically, for except it be some favourite or prolific ewe, it is rarely that a sheep is kept so long that its age is any reason for despising it. It is well, however, that purchasers of sheep should b>e able to ascertain the age up to the point of maturity." John A. Craig, speaking of the replacement of the front teeth in his book " Judging Live Stock " says : " The first or central pair of incisors appear when the sheep is slightly over one year old. The next pair, that is, one on each side of the central pair, appear the following year, and that is when the sheep is two years old ; the third pair appear when the sheep is slightly over three years old, and the fourth pair when it is between four and five years old. This completes the number of incisors, and a complete set always indicates that the sheep is between four and five years old. High feeding or forcing hastens the age indications, so that the variations are often unnoticeable, especially in show sheep."