166 Sheep-Farming 



seem to be replaced very regularly by a permanent 

 pair of incisors each year. The difference between 

 temporary and permanent teeth can be readily 

 learned by studying the mouth of a sheep known to 

 be one or two years old. The first pair of central 

 permanent incisors usually make their appearance 

 when the lamb is about one year old, and they attain 

 their full growth a few months later. The next 

 pair, that is, one on each side of the central pair, 

 make their appearance about one year later, so that 

 the sheep has two pairs of permanent incisors when 

 it is a little over two years old. The third pair 

 appear the next year, making the sheep slightly 

 over three years old when there are three pairs of 

 permanent incisors. The last or fourth pair, that 

 is, one of each end of the row of incisors, appear 

 when the sheep is slightly over four years old. As 

 a rule, the mouth is full when the sheep reaches 

 five years old. In the instance of lambs that have 

 been forced when young, the teeth very often 

 appear before the ordinary time, and there are many 

 instances of variation from the time that has been 

 given. With advancing age, the teeth show wider 

 apart, and when shed, handicap the animal greatly 

 in grazing. 



It is not necessary to part the jaws in examining 

 the teeth. Standing at the left side of the sheep, 

 hold the head firmly against the thigh with the right 

 hand and with the two forefingers of the left hand 



