Age determination and teeth examination

Age determination and teeth examination

Sheep and goats

Determine age, flock composition, dental defects and diseases

The lifting of lips to expose the teeth should take place in such a way as to prevent unnecessary stress to the animal. The following illustration shows how this should be done: Use the index and middle finger or thumb preferably.

     

It is important not to confuse temporary teeth in a year old animal, which has not yet started teething, with an adult sheep that is 4 years of age (“full mouth”).  The more mature characteristics of the face will be helpful.

Ageing is done according to the following formula for sheep (and goats):-

 

                       15 months (1 year)             ± 3 months            =          2 TOOTH (2 permanent teeth)

24 months (2 years)           ± 3 months            =          4 TOOTH

33 months (3 years)           ± 3 months            =          6 TOOTH

42 months (4 years)           ± 3 months            =          8 TOOTH (Full-mouth)(Volbek)

Gummer (Slytbek) (6-8 years) =      Old, stumpy teeth (or very long teeth, if little wear   takes place)

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Once animals reach this stage they will already have lost condition, because of poor veld intake.. It is for this reason that breeding animals should not usually be retained in the flock when older  than 8 years.

After this age, the approximate age can be told by the amount of wear on the front teeth. As the animal gets older, the teeth spread apart and finally become loose and some drop out. At this age the animal begins to lose its usefulness as a grazing animal.

Cattle

Johne's Disease (paratuberculosis) - signs and prevention

Johne's Disease (pronounced "Yo nees") is a disease that affects the intestines of mostly ruminants. It is caused by a hardy bacteria called Mycobacterium paratuberculosis.

Johne's disease is most commonly observed in dairy cows, but may also affect beef cattle, sheep, and goats.

The strain that affects sheep is different than the one that affects cows, though there is an intermediate strain that sheep are susceptible to. While cattle experience diarrhea, in sheep, Johne's tends to be a wasting disease. Control of the disease in infected flocks is difficult due to the lack of a reliable live animal test. Vaccination will reduce the number of clinical cases in a flock, but will not prevent all animals from becoming infected. Colostrum from other sources (cows, goats) may be a source of infection in sheep flocks.

What are the signs of Johne's disease and how can I tell if my flock has Johne's disease?

This disease is hard to detect. The signs of Johne's disease are vague and months can pass after infection before they appear. Weight loss in animals with a good appetite may be the only indication as diarrhea is not a common sign in sheep, unlike what is seen in cattle. Infected sheep may appear unthrifty and wool break/poor fleece condition may also be noted. The signs of Johne's disease can be confused with the clinical indications of other conditions such as parasitism, OPP (ovine progressive pneumonia), CLA (caseous lymphadenitis) or malnutrition. Of course, more than one problem may be occurring - for example, sheep eventually succumbing to Johne's disease had improved clinically after treatment for parasites. Because of the slowly progressive nature of the infection, signs of Johne's disease are usually not seen until animals are adults.

How do sheep get Johne's disease?

Johne's disease typically enters a flock when an apparently healthy, but infected animal is introduced. This animal contaminates the premises (feed, ground, water) by shedding the organism in its manure. The organism is then ingested by other sheep. Lambs are thought to be most susceptible to infection and their suckling manure-contaminated teats are another route of infection. It is also possible that a ewe in the later phases of the infection can shed M. paratuberculosis into her milk and colostrum, thus transmitting it to her lambs.

How can you prevent your animals from getting Johne's disease?

The best way to avoid this chronic infectious disease of course is to be as certain as possible that animals brought into the flock are not infected with M. paratuberculosis. Johne's disease test-negative flocks are the best sources of animals for purchase. Since many flock managers have not yet test for the infection, assess the entire flock (not just the animals you intend to buy) for body condition. Ask the owner about the cull rate and common cause for culling - how many animals were thin/unthrifty for no confirmed reason? Check the body condition of the dam of lambs you intend to purchase and have her tested if you have suspicions (tests on sheep less than one year old are not likely to be informative unless exhibiting signs of the infection).

Following general rules of sanitation are helpful in blocking transmission of the infection. Feeders and waterers should be designed to minimize the likelihood of fecal contamination. Lambing should occur in clean, dry areas. Animals with weight loss or diarrhea should be segregated from the rest of the flock and tested.

Age determination - cattle, sheep and goats

Sheep age 

You will not be able to determine the exact age of the animal from is teeth – there will be a few months either way. It is important not to confuse temporary teeth in a year old animal, which has not yet started teething, with an adult sheep that is 4 years of age (“full mouth”).  The more mature characteristics of the face will be helpful.

 Ageing is done according to the following formula for sheep (and goats):-

                        15 months (1 year)            ± 3 months                        =          2 TOOTH (2 permanent teeth)

24 months (2 years)           ± 3 months                        =          4 TOOTH

33 months (3 years)           ± 3 months                        =          6 TOOTH

42 months (4 years)           ± 3 months                        =          8 TOOTH (Full-mouth)(Volbek)

Gummer (Slytbek) (6-8 years)                                    =          Old, stumpy teeth (or very long teeth, if little wear   takes place)

Cattle age 

Correct way to check sheep and goats
The lifting of lips to expose the teeth should take place in such a way as to prevent unnecessary stress to the animal.  Use index and middle finger or thumb preferably.

Timetable - Cultivated pastures (South Africa)

Sheep on Lucerne - Skape op Lusern

Rooster - Aangeplante Weiding

Die koeie vreet mengsel van groen lusern, groen hawer/ryegrass, mieliemeel, sojaoliekoek, katoensaad en minerale. 57% kragvoer teenoor 43% ruvoer op DM basis bereken. - Gerdie Landman - Mooimelk Koeihotel, Kookhuis, Oos-Kaap.