DETERMINING THE AGE OF CATTLE
BY THE TEETH

GEORGE W. POPE

Quarantine Division

FARMERS' BULLETIN 1066
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Contribution from the Bureau of Animal Industry
JOHN R. MOHLER, Chief

Washington, D. C.August, 1919

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Division of Publications, United States Department of Agriculture

PUBLICATIONS OF U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE RELATING TO CATTLE.

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DETERMINING THE AGE OF CATTLE BY THE TEETH.

The age of cattle can be approximated closely by the appearance, development, and subsequent wear of their second incisor teeth. Cattle have eight incisor teeth, all in the lower jaw. In the calf at birth two or more of the temporary or first incisor teeth are present. With the first month the entire eight incisors have appeared.

Fig. 1.—Internal face of incisors of the calf.

As the animal approaches 2 years of age the center pair of temporary incisor teeth or pinchers are replaced by the permanent pinchers which at 2 years attain full development.

Fig. 2.—Internal face of incisors at 2 years.

At from 2½ to 3 years the permanent first intermediates are cut and are usually fully developed at 3 years.

Fig. 3.—Internal face of incisors at 3 years.

At 3½ years the second intermediates or laterals are cut. They are on a level with the first intermediates and begin to wear at 4 years.

Fig. 4.—Internal face of incisors at 4 years.

At 4½ to 5 years the corner teeth are replaced, the animal at 5 years having the full complement of incisors with the corners fully developed.