DISPOSAL AND MARKETING OF SHEEP 359 



when the teeth fail. In some breeds the teeth are lost 

 at about half the age at which they are lost in other 

 breeds. The more that quick maturity has been sought 

 in a breed, the younger the age at which the teeth are 

 shed, and vice versa. The other indications referred to are 

 also affected by the same influence. Longevity in the 

 Merino is much greater than in the other breeds now in 

 America. In former decades American Merinos have in 

 some instances produced lambs at the age of 20 years. 

 The instances are not numerous with nearly all the other 

 breeds in which they have produced lambs beyond half 

 the age mentioned. 



It is apparent, therefore, that the indications of age 

 mentioned are only approximations more or less close to 

 the truth. The time at which the teeth are shed, for 

 instance, is much influenced by the forced character of 

 the feeding, or the opposite. Liberal feeding tends to 

 produce early shedding of the teeth. When sheep are 

 liberally fed they get their first pair of permanent incisors 

 at about 11 months, the second at 18 months, the third at 

 27 months and the fourth at 36 months. At the Smithfield 

 fat stock show in England, sheep having their central 

 permanent incisors cut are considered as beyond the age 

 of 10 months ; those having them fully grown as beyond 

 12 months ; those having the third pair cut as exceeding 

 19 months ; and those having the third pair fully up and 

 all the temporary molars replaced as exceeding 24 months. 



Preparing sheep for shipping — When sheep are 

 shipped from the ranges a change of food is not necessary 

 preceding their shipment. They may be taken directly 

 from the pastures to the cars on which they are loaded. 

 It is important that the car is well furnished with bedding, 

 as it will add greatly to their comfort and will help to 

 keep the wool from getting soiled. For an ordinary single 

 decfe car not less than 200 to 300 pounds of bedding should 

 be fhrnished in the form of straw where obtainable, or 

 old hay where straw is not to be had. 



