The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-09-22
Glle 9arnler,
JUDGING THE AGE OF CATTLE.

All the animals of this species, says the
american CaLtirdtor, are born with In
cisors. called milk-teeth, which fail and are
renewed at the periods mentioned below.
Calves born tOothless are premature. Ac-
cording to Guenon, bovine animals have
thirty-two teeth, of which twenty -four are
grinding teeth, or molars, and eight are
cutting-teeth, or incisors. The molars
serve for grinding the food in eating and
Inflammation; they arc regularly distributed
in four groups of six each, soidly planted.
Two of these groups of molars form the
entire dentition of the upper jaw, in which
there are no incisors, but their place is filled
by mass of elastic cartilage forming
firm pad. The two other groups occupy
the back of the lower jaw, and are sepa-
rated by space of about four inches, IN
which are planted the incisors. The eight
incisors in the front part of the lower jaw
complete the dentition They are grouped
in a semicircle, the middle ones being
somewhat higher than those of the extrem-
tiles They are usually rather loose IN the
law, having but single root. At from
two to two and a-half years, the central in
cisors are lost, and replaced by the perma-
nent teeth. From this time to three
wears the two adjoining teeth are lost; six
months later the third incisors of each side,
and at about four years the corner ones,
all being replaced as they fall by the per-
manent teeth. 1t happens sometimes, but
rarely, that the corner incisors are not lost.
When the permanent incisors have all ap-
peared the animal is rising five years.
The molars of both jaws have been lost at
about the same time, the four correspond
inc ones falling together, and being re-
placed by new ones. During this second
dentition, and especially when cutting the
permanent molars, the animal suffers more
or less and eats with difficulty. 1t is well,
as the suffering seems severe, or continues
long, to have the loose tooth extracted by
skillful hand At five years the teeth
are usually complete and regular, the Incl
sor forming a semicircle of which the
corner teeth are lower than those of the
centre The upper surface Of the tooth
presents sharp, projecting ring Of enamel.
After seven or eight years this symmetry
is altered, the central incisors wearing down
to about the height of the corners. After
nine years the enamel ring is worn down,
the angles of the teeth show attrition, and
the forms grow rounder. At from fourteen
to seventeen they are worn down to the
roots, leaving wide interstices; the alveolar
processes begin to be absorbed, and the
teeth grow loose. The rapidity Of these
changes depends to some degree upon the
mode of life and the food of the animal.
In heaths and sandy land the teeth wear
out much faster, and the animals raised in
them may have the teeth quite worn away
before they are old In fertile pasturages
the teeth are preserved longer, but the
dryness and perishing of the ivory occur
at the ages above mentioned. When the
incisors begin to fall the animals have diff
Guilty in grazing, and if intended for fat
tening must be fed in the stall Similar
Inconvenience follow the loss Of one or
more molars; the animal grinds its food
with difficulty, and the jaw becomes more
or less defOrmed. Animals of this species
are also subject to ''wolf-teeth," which term
is applied to teeth CASUALLY the second mo-
lars) which grow long and pointed, inter-
fering with the closure Of the jaws and
hindering mastication Animals thus af-
fected feed with difficulty and are apt to
pine away. The position of these teeth
makes it difficult to inspect them, but when
discovered the tooth should be cut or
snapped off to the level of the rest. Now
as to the horns In animals which have
reached the age of three years the horn has
Il ridge or ring at the base, and a new one
is formed every year below the old one.
But the number Of these rings cannot be
relied upon in estimating the age, as it
sometimes happens that in an old animal
these rings are so blended that they cannot
be counted. In youth the horns are
thickest at the base, and taper to a point;
but when the animal has reached eight or
ten years a narrowing often takes place at
the base, celebrating several rings This
is often the case with animals used for
labor, as the pressure Of the yoke and the
friction of the parts which attach it to the
horns wear away the rings. The appear
ance of the horns is therefore much more
uncertain guide than that Of the teeth in
estimating age; still, it should not be en-
tirely neglected.