Ages of Sheep by the Teeth

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2068, 16 May 1887, Page 3

Ages of Sheep by the Teeth

Onr (‘ Sydney Mail ’) Derili.juin correspondent writes: A rather ; ocular case is likely to occupy the attention of the superior courts of Deniliijuin shortly, unless a settlement is previously armed at It is based on the age of sheep as indicated by the teeth. A flock of yearling stud rams, or two tooths, as they are technically called, was gold by a wellknown local bleeder to a buyer in one •f the northern districts, and when delivered it was found that many of them had four teeth showing. The purchaser thereupon declined to take delivery, and has threatened proceedings for breach of contract. The breeder avers that notwithstanding tho four teeth showing they were only yearling rams, and states his willingness to go into court on the issue. Here at Biverina, and especially amongst wellbred sheep, four teeth are often developed very shortly after the end of the first year, and it has become a custom to overlook the teeth indications and rely upon the other signs of age. In several of the pastoral shows the designation two-tooth, four-tooth Ac, is being abandoned, and ‘ one year, eighteen mouths, two years,' Ac., are being substituted for the ages of the respective exhibits. There is not the slightest doubt among prominent breeders that teeth are no indicati n of age, except as a general sign, and that in many instances they are altogether misleading, the present case being an illustration of the exception. If the case referred to comes into court, a mats of evidence is likely to be brought to bear upon it, and the trial is, there', ip, looked forward to with a considerable degree of interest.