CHAPTER XIX 



Live-stock Rules and Records 



Farm live-stock, as the term is usually understood, includes the 

 mammals that produce edible products or perform agricultural labor, 

 as the cow, the horse, the sheep, the goat, the swine. Strictly speak- 

 ing, it should also comprise poultry (Chapter XX), but this large group 

 usually is treated by itself. Many kinds of pets and of fancy stock — 

 cats, dogs, cavies, canaries — form another group. 



Determining the Age of Farm Animals (Wing) 

 Cattle. 



The teeth of the ox serve to help in the determination of its age, 

 although not so accurately nor to so great an extent as in the horse. 

 Under ordinary circumstances, the incisors are the only teeth that are 

 used in the determination of age. Of these, the ox has eight, or four 

 pairs, and on the lower jaw only. There are two sets, the temporary 

 or milk teeth, and the permanent teeth, the latter differing from the 

 former mainly in their greater size and width. 



The calf is born with the two central pairs of milk teeth fully up, 

 and the remaining pairs appear within the first month after birth. 

 When the animal reaches the age of about eighteen months, the middle 

 pair of milk teeth are replaced by permanent ones that are fully twice 

 as broad as the milk teeth. The interval between the appearance of 

 the succeeding pairs is rather variable, depending on the precocity'' or 

 early maturity of the individual and also on the breed and the way 

 in which the animal has been kept. Young cattle that have been ill- 

 kept, and whose general development has been delayed, will have 

 their dentition delayed, and will show a young mouth for their age. 

 The interval between the appearance of each two pairs of teeth is 

 seldom less than nine months, so that the age of the animal at the 

 time each pair is up and in full wear may be reckoned as follows : 

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