Premature loss of incisor teeth is a major problem that leads to early culling because affected sheep are unable to bite short pasture leading to malnutrition, poor production and weight loss particularly on marginal grazing and hill pastures. Sheep with such incisor teeth mal-alignment with the dental pad should be culled as fat lambs but it is surprising how many sheep are kept as breeding stock despite such teeth problems.įig 5: Undershot jaw or brachygnathia in the adult Scottish Blackface ewe shown above. This examination will reveal any teeth projecting forward of the normal contact on the dental pad (overshot jaw or prognathia a very common hereditary defect in Blueface Leicester) or behind (undershot jaw or brachygnathia).įig 4: Undershot jaw or brachygnathia in an adult Scottish Blackface ewe Incisor teeth alignmentĮxamination of incisor teeth alignment is performed by running an index finger along the dental pad, with the sheep's mouth closed and the head held in the normal resting position. The second permanent molar erupts at nine to 12 months, and the third permanent molar and permanent premolars erupt between 18 and 24 months. The first permanent molar erupts at three and five months in the lower and upper jaws, respectively. The permanent central pair of incisors erupt at 15 months and are in wear by 18 months the other permanent incisors follow sequentially at six months' intervals. The three temporary premolars erupt within two to six weeks. The temporary incisor teeth erupt sequentially at approximately weekly intervals from birth. Sheep have 32 permanent teeth with a dental formula of 2 (incisors 0/4, premolars 3/3, and molars 3/3). Note the sunken flanks suggestive of poor feed intake. Note the swollen cheeks and drooling of saliva in this Cheviot ewe.įig 3: Molar teeth lesions cause problems with mastication of fibrous feeds. Fig 1: Correct dentition is essential for sheep grazing rough pasture.įig 2: Molar teeth cause problems with mastication of fibrous feeds and subsequent weight loss.
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