DENTITION AS A MEASURE OF PHYSIOLOGICAL AGE IN COWS OF DIFFERENT BREED TYPES

Abstract

Counting the number of permanent anterior (incisor plus canine) teeth is a well-established method for estimating physiological age in cattle. In this study, 1295 observations were made on cows and heifers representing five breed types and ranging in age from 475 to 2035 days. None of the breed types were identified as having an early- or late-maturing dentition. It was concluded that dental age classifications provide a viable alternative to the physiological maturity classes currently used in the Canadian Beef Carcass Grading System. Key words: Cattle, physiological age, dentition, carcass grading