Ears
2.5 years: First pair of "adult" lower teeth replace milk teeth.
milk teeth.
milk teeth.
5 years: Canine tooth appears.
(However, not every horse, mule or burro develops canine teeth.)
Note: After five years, age estimation is less exact.
6 years: First pair of lower teeth develops a flat surface - i.e. the hole in the tooth disappears.
7 years: Second pair of lower teeth develops a flat surface.
In some horses a "hook" develops on the third pair of upper teeth.
8 years: Third pair of lower teeth develop a flat surface.
10 years: In some horses, a line begins at the top of the third pair of upper teeth.
15 years: In horses that develop a line in the third pair
of upper teeth, the line appears half-way down the tooth.
Also, the teeth start changing from oval-shaped to triangular-shaped.
20 years: In horses with a line, the line is complete from the top to the bottom of the tooth.
25 years: In horses with a line, the top-half of the line disappears.
In general:
When young, the teeth are straight up and down and oval-shaped.
When middle-aged, the teeth begin to slant and change shape.
When old, the teeth are quite slanted and triangular-shaped.
Age Estimation In CATTLE
30 days: Four pairs of "milk" teeth have erupted.
2.5 years: Second pair of adult teeth erupt to replace the milk teeth.
Note: After five years of age, age estimation in cattle is less exact.
Approximately 8 years: The surface of the first pair of teeth flattens.
Approximately 9 years: The surface of the second & third pair of teeth flattens.
Approximately 10 years: The surface of the 4th pair of teeth flattens.
In general:
When young, cattle have oval shaped teeth.
When older, cattle have triangular shaped teeth.
Age Estimation In SHEEP & GOATS
Less than 1 year of age: Four pairs of milk teeth.
1 year of age: First pair of adult teeth erupt to replace milk teeth.
2 years of age: Second pair of adult teeth erupt to replace milk teeth.
3 years of age: Third pair of adult teeth erupt to replace milk teeth.
4 years of age: Fourth pair of adult teeth erupt to replace milk teeth.
Remember, a goat or sheep with four pairs of adult teeth is four years of age or greater.
In old sheep or goats, the teeth begin to separate.
Are there signs that the animal has been scratching its ears because of parasites? For example, is there redness behind the ears? Are there crusty areas, sores or discharges from the ears? Is the animal shaking its head frequently? Are there ticks inside the ears?