198 BEGINNINGS IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY 



With the fingers one may press the wool firmly enough to 

 feel the flesh below, to determine the extent and uniformity 

 of fattening or covering over the frame, and whether the wool 

 hides defects of conformation, such as narrow back, droopy 

 rump, etc. Practice, of course, enables one in time to use 

 the hands with much freedom, without detriment to the 

 fleece, but inexperienced persons should be very careful not 

 to disturb the wool. The skin of a sheep should be of a 

 healthy pink color. It is assumed that this indicates the 

 animal to be in fine physical condition. However, some 

 breeds that are noted feeders, like the Shropshire and Oxford, 

 have dark-colored skins often times, and so it maybe said 

 that we do not know the real significance of skin color. 

 Yet the skin in any case should look clean and healthy, and 

 not pale and bloodless. 



The age of the sheep is easily determined up to four or 

 five years. A short time after birth, the lamb has in the 

 front of the lower jaw, eight small, narrow teeth, which are 

 commonly called the milk teeth. The front part of the upper 

 jaw has no teeth, but simply a tough, fleshy pad. When 

 about 12 months old, the two middle milk teeth drop out, 

 and two larger, permanent teeth occupy the place. At 

 about 24 months, two more teeth push out two milk teeth, 

 one on each side of the two that came in at 12 months. At 

 36 months two more come in, and at 48 months the corner 

 teeth are replaced by larger permanent ones. It is easy to 

 tell the age up to four years. After that one must do some 

 guessing. It is to be noted, however, that with age the teeth 

 usually wear down or break away in the middle first; old 

 teeth also slant forward more than do those of less age. It 

 is a good plan always to examine the teeth when judging or 

 buying; for they are a guide to age, and indicate the condi- 

 tion for feeding and future usefulness. 



