This document discusses methods for determining the age of animals, specifically cattle, through examination of teeth, horn rings, and tail length. The main methods described are: - Examining teeth patterns to determine age based on whether teeth are milk or permanent, and how worn down they are. For cattle, this can estimate age to within 1-2 years. - Counting growth rings on horns, with the age of the animal equaling the number of rings plus two years. - Measuring the length of the tail brush, with a brush reaching the fetlock indicating the animal is at least one year old. - Other minor methods like examining bone maturity and meat color/texture are also

1. ESTIMATION OF ANIMAL’s AGE
ZAIN ALI
ID: 2020-dvmje-014
BY:

2. Knowing animal’s age is useful for
both animal management and
marketing. Age affects animal
value. Both replacement and
market cows typically decline in
value as they age.
IMPORTANCE:

3. METHODS:
 The age of animal is determined chiefly by
 BY EXAMINATION OF THE TEETH
 BY THE HORN RINGS
 By length of the tail brush

4. AGE OF CATTLE:

5. BY EXAMINATION OF THE TEETH:
 Cattle are placed in
a CATTLE CRUSH in
order to restrain them
prior inspecting the
mouth and amount of
teeth that each animal
has.

6. • DETERMINE AGE OF ANIMALS WITH THE HELP OF DIAGRAM OF
TEETH EXAMPLE COW/OX AND BUFFALOES:

7. • DETERMINE AGE OF ANIMALS WITH THE HELP OF DIAGRAM OF
TEETH EXAMPLE COW/OX AND BUFFALOES:

8. AGE OF CALF:
The calf has EIGHT
milky teeth.
Therefore its age is
BELOW ONE YEAR.

9. The ox have two
permanent teeth and
six milk teeth .
Therefore its age is 2-
3 YEARS.

10. The ox have four
permanent teeth and four
milk teeth . Therefore its
age is 3-4 YEARS.

11. The ox have four
permanent teeth
and four milk
teeth . Therefore
its age is 3-4
YEARS.

12. The ox has eight
permanent teeth.
Therefore its age is
more than six years

13. AGE OF SHEEP/GOAT:

14. • Determine age of animals with the help of
teeth For Example Goat

15. • Determine age of animals with the help of teeth For
Example Goat:
The goat has Four
permanent and Four milk
teeth, therefore its age is
more than 30 Days.

16. The goat has six
permanent and two
milk teeth, therefore
its age is 2 TO 3
YEARS.

17. Age of Equine
It’s All in the Teeth
Type, number and appearance of
incisor teeth help determine correct
age.

18.  Adult horses typically have 36-44 teeth
 12 Incisors (6 upper and 6 lower)
 12 Pre-molars
 12 Molars
May have
Canines (4)
Wolf teeth (2)
TYPES OF TEETH:

19.  Immature horses – Total 24 temporary teeth
 Stallions & Geldings – 40-44 permanents
Most have 4 canines
 Mares – Total 36-38 permanent teeth
Mares are less likely to have canines
THE NUMBERS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE:

20. Types of Teeth:
 Temporary Teeth – small, white, oval
shaped; wider side to side than front to
rear
 Permanent Teeth – yellow, larger than
temporaries with a general round
surface
 Molars – used for grinding on each side
 Incisors – used for cutting

21.  As the horse ages:
Teeth are worn
down (height)
Change shape
(oval to triangle)
Cup is worn away

22. • 4 years - Temporary intermediate incisors replaced with permanent
intermediate incisors
• 5 years – All temporary incisors replaced with permanent incisors.
Horse is full mouthed.
• 6 years – Cups gone from lower central incisors
• 7 years – Cups gone from lower intermediate incisors
• 8 years - Cups gone from lower corner incisors
• 1 year – All temporary incisors present / Cups gone from centrals
• 2 year - All temporary incisors present / cups gone
• 3 year - Temporary central incisors replaced with permanent central
incisors
THE BREAKDOWN:

23. • 9 years - Cups gone from upper central incisors
• 10 years -Cups gone from upper intermediate incisors
• 11 years -Cups gone from all incisors . Horse is smooth
mouthed.
Bishoping– The practice of artificially
drilling, burning or staining cups in
teeth of older horses.
Makes them appear younger
Extras:

24. BY THE HORN RINGS:
The rings on the horns are useful for the
determination of age of animals.
FORMULA:
AGE= N+2
• N= No of rings on horn

25. No of circles on horn are 5.
Age=N+2
=5+2
=7
So the age of the animal
is 7 years.

26. No. of rings on horn are 7.
Age=N+2
=7+2
=9
• So the age of the cow is 9 years.

27. • The brush of the tail is only useful as a
guide when assessing small, stunted or
young cattle.
• A brush that is about fetlock length or
longer is an indication that the animal is
twelve months old.
• This method cannot be used on cattle
which have been bang-tailed.
By length of the tail brush:

28. Cattle age in a carcass is determined by:
• checking the physiological skeletal maturity (ossification)
(red) of the tips or “buttons” of the thoracic vertebrae.
• The size and shape of the rib bones are important
considerations
• Colour and texture of the flesh.
• The use of number (year) branding, tattoos or ear tags with
numbers or different colours are good methods of identifying
the age of cattle, if they are used according to standards.
OTHER METHODS:

29. REFERENCES:
• "Live beef cattle assessment". 1976. Retrieved 31
August 2019.
• The Household Cyclopedia of General Information, 1881
• http://163.172.68.26/sd.php/sls/1607766zMTg1M2JlYTQ/2
5913032-determination-age-of-animal-with-help-of-teeth-
ppt-1.pdf
• https://sare.org/wp-content/uploads/Teeth-tags-and-a-
tse.ppt
MAIN:
METHODS OF DETERMINING AGE OF CATTLE
BY:
Ron Torell Dr. Ben Bruce Dr. Bill Kvasnicka Ken Conley, Gund
Research and Demonstration Ranch Manager(UNIVERSITY OF
NEVADA)