How to determine the age of beef cattle by their teeth

Determining the age of cattle by their teeth is mainly based on the eruption of the deciduous incisors, their replacement, and the degree of wear on the incisors. A calf is born with 1 pair of deciduous incisors, and by 4 to 5 months after birth all the deciduous incisors have fully grown in. After that the deciduous incisors begin to loosen and fall out, replaced by permanent teeth, which gradually wear down. The pattern is as follows: at 1.5 to 2 years, the first pair of deciduous incisors falls out and is replaced by permanent teeth, known as "one pair of teeth at 2 years"; at 2.5 to 3 years, the second pair of deciduous incisors falls out and is replaced by permanent teeth, known as "two pairs of teeth at 3 years"; at 3.5 to 4 years, the third pair of deciduous incisors falls out and is replaced by permanent teeth, known as "three pairs of teeth at 4 years"; at 4.5 to 5 years, the fourth pair of deciduous incisors falls out and is replaced by permanent teeth, known as "full mouth"; at 6 to 7 years, a bead-shaped round spot appears in the middle of the first pair of incisors; at 7 to 8 years, a bead-shaped round spot appears in the middle of the second pair of incisors; at 8 to 9 years, a bead-shaped round spot appears in the middle of the third pair of incisors; at 10 years, a bead-shaped round spot appears in the middle of the fourth pair of incisors.