58 PULL VALUABLE OLD EWE'S TEETH 



Two Years Old (Fig. 3) 



From twenty-one months to two yeai's of age the next pair of 

 milk teeth (the ones on each side of the permanent pair) shed 

 and are replaced by another pair of permanent teeth. 



Three Years Old (Fig. 4) 



From thirty months to three years of age two more milk teeth 

 drop out and are replaced by permanent ones. 



Four Years Old (Fig. 5) 



Within another year the last pair of milk teeth shed and give 

 place to the last pair of permanent teeth. The sheep is now about 

 four years old and has a "full mouth," meaning that it has all of 

 its permanent teeth. For a year or two after the sheep gets a 

 "fuU mouth" the front teeth change but httle. 



Getting Old (Fig. 6) 



After the sheep gets a "full mouth" the teeth begin to slant 

 outward, grow narrow, and get a "peg-like" appearance with space 

 between them. Finally the teeth get loose and are lost one by 

 one. 



Broken Mouth (Fig. 7) 



When some of the teeth are lost or broken the sheep is said to 

 have a "broken mouth," and is considered past its usefulness. 



Pulling Teeth 



Breeders of pure-bred sheep sometimes pull the front teeth of 

 valuable old ewes at this stage and by careful feeding prolong 

 their lamb-bearing age. The loose, snaggy teeth are an annoy- 

 ance to old sheep. They are better off with them out. 



Difference in Teeth 



Some mouths grow old in appearance much faster than others. 



Sheep that are well fed and forced to early maturity often shed 

 their teeth early and get "full mouths" before poorly-fed ones. 



To determine the age after the sheep gets a full mouth is largely 

 a matter of judgment. 



