194 



CATTLE. 



At eight years a change takes place which cannot be mistaken. 

 The process of absorption has again commenced in the central inci- 

 sors ; it is slow in progress, and is never carried to the extent seen 

 in the milk teeth, but is sufficiently plain, and the two central teeth 

 are evidently smaller than their neighbors. A consideiable chano-e 

 has also taken place on the surface of the teeth ; the two dark marks 

 are rubbed into one in all but the corner teeth. 



At ten, the four central incisors are diminished in size, and the 

 mark is becoming smaller and 

 fainter. The cut represents the 

 mouth at this age. 



At eleven, the six central 

 ones are smaller ; and at twelve, 

 all of them are very considera- 

 bly diminished ; but not to the 

 same extent as in the young 

 beast. The mark is now nearly 

 obliterated, except in the cor- 

 ner teeth, and the inside edge 

 is worn down to the gum. 



The beast is now getting old ; 

 the teeth continue to diminish, 

 and the animal, after fourteen 

 or sixteen years old, is often 

 not able to maintain full condi- 

 tion. He must then be partly ten years. 

 fed, yet there are many instan- 

 ces in which favorite bulls last more than twenty years, and cows of 

 the same age who pasture with the rest of the dairy, and give a fair 

 quantity of milk. Some writers have asserted that a good cow will 

 continue good until that age ; but both in quantity and quality of 

 milk, as a general rule, a good cow will not continue to breed and 

 give milk until twenty years old. 



This method of iudcnnor of the acre of cattle bv the teeth is more 

 satisfactory than by"* the horns, and little imposition can be prac- 

 tised, whether the animal be young or old. From six to nine we can 

 only guess at the age ; but we can form a shrewd guess, and can 

 scarcely be out more than a few months. 



In the horn we are subject to imposition ; we are obliged to ask 

 questions as to the first calf; and, when the animal gets old, the 

 rings often present a c«jnfusion of which the best judges can make 

 nothing. 



The grinders will rarely be examined to ascertain the age of a 

 beast. They are too ditHcult to be got at ; and the same depen- 

 dence cannot be placed upon them. The calf is generally born with 

 two molar teeth ; sometimes with thi'ee in each jaw, above and be- 



