Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 227 



Age from the teeth. — The teeth are a fairly reliable indication of 

 the age of a sheep. The lamb has eight temporary incisors, or milk 

 teeth, in the lower jaw. There are no incisors in the upper jaw. At 

 14 months of age, the middle pair of milk teeth is supplanted by a pair 

 of larger, permanent incisors. At 2 years, the second pair of permanent 

 incisors appears; at 3 years, there are three pairs; and at 4 years, all 

 eight permanent incisors are in place. At five years, the teeth show 

 more width between, and at six, the corner teeth may be broken out 

 or the mouth may show signs of wear. Broken-mouthed sheep have 

 their usefulness much impaired, and should not be kept unless for 

 special reasons. (See Fig. 76.) 



