38 THE farmer's veterinarian 



TEETH OF SHEEP 



Sheep, like cattle, have no incisor teeth on the 

 upper jaw. Like cattle, they have eight incisors 

 on the lower jaw when the mouth has reached full 

 age. The change of the teeth occurs as follows: 

 At birth the lamb has two incisors, followed by two 

 more very soon. At the end of two weeks two 

 more are out, making six incisors in all. At three 

 weeks of age two more have appeared, completing 

 the appearance of the temporary or milk teeth. 



The permanent begin to replace the temporary 

 teeth between one and one and a half years. The 

 two central milk teeth are first replaced by two 

 longer and stronger teeth. The lamb is now known 

 as a yearling. 



At two years the two teeth adjoining the central 

 incisors are replaced by permanent ones; at three 

 the two adjoining these are replaced, making now 

 six permanent incisors. 



Between four and four and a half the last two 

 permanent incisors appear and the sheep then has 

 a full mouth. 



