The first domesticated animal, along with the wolf, was the sheep. The ability to eat tough and withered grass, to which the teeth of sheep and rams are adapted, helped the first people move from a nomadic life on pastures to a sedentary one. During this time, we have accumulated vast experience in keeping and breeding such an unpretentious animal. The issue of studying the structure of the teeth, which are not only an indicator of the health and age of the sheep, remains important.
The structure of teeth in sheep
The teeth of a ram, like all artiodactyls, are a noticeable part protruding from the gums. They consist of a crown, neck, and root. The latter is immersed in the alveolar bone, which fixes it. Usually has a length of 6-10 mm. The neck from root to crown is less pronounced. The front incisors are in the shape of an elongated triangle.
Components of the tooth:
- The pulp is the central tissue in which nerve connections and blood vessels are concentrated.
- Dentin – surrounds the pulp, base, core.
- Enamel is the outer tissue, the strongest part, which receives the greatest load during chewing and is therefore susceptible to destruction.
Of all the tissues in an animal's body, enamel is the hardest. The film that forms on the surface of the tooth, protecting it from acid attack, disappears during grinding of food.
Types and their number of teeth
The ram chews grass with thirty-two teeth (dental formula I:0/3 C:0/1 P:3/3 M:3/3). Of these: 8 anterior incisors and 24 molars. The incisors are located only in the lower part of the jaw, and at the top there is a hard palatal plate. The long incisors have an angle of inclination that provides the lowest possible grip on grass (this is unlike other ruminants).
Interestingly, in the German city of Bonn, sheep are used instead of lawn mowers, they pluck the grass so perfectly. It is more convenient for sheep to chew grass with the wide surface of the back of the jaw, consisting of false root teeth (premolars) and real molars, or molars. The central pair of incisors of the lower jaw are called hooks. The adjacent pair are the middle ones, followed by the corner ones, and the edges close the row. There is a difference between incisors of the same row, or arcade. The volume and height of the arcade decrease from the hooks to the edges.The long gap not covered by teeth from the margins to the premolars is called the edentulous margin.
Cutting through, changing, erasing
As a rule, lambs are born without teeth, but some are born with one, sometimes three pairs of incisors. According to statistics, the hooks erupt within a week of the lamb’s life. After just a month, the lambs are gradually transferred to hay. Solid food wears down baby teeth, speeding up their replacement. Permanent incisors differ significantly from primary incisors in volume and size. But the three rear molars remain unchanged.
Determining the age of an animal by teeth
Animals' ears are marked from the moment of birth, but if the tag is lost, the age can be determined by the dental jaw. The criteria are the shape and order of replacement of molars and incisors.
At 4 years old, the arcade update ends. It is dense, smooth, well closed. The hooks are wide, without signs of wear. By the age of five, the enamel becomes thinner and gaps appear. At 6-7 years of age, the gaps become wider, and the incisors take the shape of a chisel. At 7-8 years of age, tooth loss begins.
Determining the age of an animal is not difficult; it is important to consider the following points:
- what type of jaw does it have (presence of milk teeth or permanent ones);
- what quantity;
- condition (worn or even, how they close, their length, presence of cracks);
- what color (milky white or yellow);
- take into account individual characteristics (breed, nutrition, living conditions).
The sequence of tooth growth period is as follows:
| Age | Stages of growth |
| 5-12 days | hooks are cut |
| 9-14 days | 4 incisors grow (middle and outer) |
| 2 months | the edges come out, the length of the arcade of the incisors is not the same |
| 3 months | 1st molar (deciduous) appears |
| 9 months | 2nd molar visible below |
| up to 1 year | The middle and internal incisors are completely replaced |
| after a year, up to a year and a half | process of replacing hooks with permanent ones |
| 18 months | the 3rd molar is erupting, the edges of the permanent hooks are erased |
| 24 months | the 1st premolar of the lower jaw is clearly visible, the incisors and molars are aligned in one line |
| 2 years 5 months | traces of abrasion of internal crowns are poorly visible |
| up to 3 years | all external incisors are replaced |
| 3 years 5 months | complete replacement of all dairy products |
| 4 years | arcade leveling |
| 4 years 5 months | chewing wears down the edges |
| 5-6 years | abrasions are visible, roots protrude from the gums |
| 6-7 years | the hooks become thinner, gaps are noticeable. The roots are mobile, turn yellow, begin to fall out, the shape changes to quadrangular |
Important! Proper nutrition helps sheep keep their teeth healthy and intact, so culling occurs later.
When sheep are culled due to old age
On average, sheep live up to 15 years. If a sheep loses its teeth, it means it will not be able to eat properly. No matter what age it is, it is not profitable for the farmer to keep it. It is necessary to examine each animal that has reached a critical age, and personally make a decision: to cull or leave it on soft food.
Teeth and feed quality
From 5 months, the quality of food begins to influence the degree of jaw wear. Grazing on old grass that has become hard will speed up the wear of toes. Juicy greens are more suitable for the tender age of lambs.If the sheep's diet contains predominantly roughage, the incisors shorten too quickly, which can reach the gums.
Lack of friction, on the contrary, contributes to the enlargement of the lateral incisors, which injure the oral cavity. Another reason for abrasion is warm water - by the age of 6, sheep can lose some of their teeth.
This is interesting! Despite the harsh living conditions, bighorn sheep live up to 24 years.
