96 The 'Book of the Coat. 



-to Tell -the Age of a Coat. 



Another important consideration when choosing a goat 

 is the age. 



The best age is about three years, after it has just 

 borne its second kids, as the amount of "milk given on 

 the first occasion is often comparatively small. If a goat 

 with her second litter has only just arrived at her second 

 year, she must have had her first kids at too early an age, 

 and before her growth was sufficiently developed, so that 

 she would be stunted in size in consequence. 



A fairly accurate estimate of the age of a goat 

 may be obtained by looking into its mouth and examining 

 the teeth ; like sheep and cows, these animals have no 

 incisors in the upper jaw, but only in the lower, it being 

 by these that the age is to be ascertained. The mouth of a 

 goat aged one year contains its full complement of teeth, 

 thirty-two in number namely, six molars on either side 

 of each jaw, and eight incisors, or front teeth, in the lower 

 jaw only. These are of small size, and rather pointed. 

 In the second year (generally about the second month) 

 the two centre ones fall, and are replaced by two new 

 ones, easily distinguishable by their size, being considerably 

 larger than the other six incisors. . In the third year 

 two more small teeth, one on each side of those already 

 changed, are replaced, so that at that age there are four 

 large incisors in the centre and two small ones at each end. 

 In the fourth year the large teeth increase to six in 

 number, and only two small ones, one at each end, remain. 

 Finally, when the goat reaches her fifth year, these in turn 

 fall, and are replaced, and she has then what is commonly 

 called a " full mouth." After that time the means of 

 ascertaining the age are less sure, the only plan then being 

 to examine all the teeth generally, but particularly the 

 molars' or grinders; the more these are worn the older the 



