Telling A Sheep's Age

The only correct and reliable way of determining tlio ago of young sheop is by their teoth. After the last teeth have appeared, so that the " mouth is iull," it will be irapoasible to determine tho age with reliable certftinty. Like neat cattle, sheep have no iix:isOr teeth iu tho nppef jaw. The age must be deteirnined by the sppearauee of tuo inoisor or front teeth of the tower jaw. At two rnonths old all the inciisors ot the lower jaw have in most Israbs appeared. These inciaors aro retaiaed until the aaiiuai is twelve to sixteen uioütlis old, when they begin to be displaced, juít sa chiidren shed thtiir toeth, but not all ut ouoe. Tho two central incisors nre displaced aiid renewed firnt by permaueat ones, which will have atiained thsir growth when tho animal is two years old. If we look at tho teeth of a elieep two yenrs old, it will be seen that tho two central incisors havo usually attained their f uil size. The next year, one incisor on euch sido of tho central pair will displace the first teeth, and will be pushed out even with tho central ones. When the aninir.l is between two and thiee yaars old, tho noxt pair of incisora will be reuewed. After three years have clapsed another set of incisors will have appeared. Betweon tho ages of four and fivo years old, it will be found impraoticable to determine whether the ago is five, 6Íx, or seven, unloss somo of the incisors have begun to disappear. Aftor the seventh or oigbth year somo of tho side incisors begin to disappear entirely. ïf the teeth appear old and decayod, and soiae are entirely gone, we can safely conclude that tho animal is over oight yoars old. Jüdging of the age beyond this period will bo found no moro reliable than shrewd