Dentition is often used to determine the ages of goats. Goats have no teeth in the upper jaw but have eight front teeth (incisors) in the lower jaw. Towards the back of the mouth goats have large teeth called molars used for chewing.
In animals less than one year the front teeth are small and sharp. This is the milk tooth stage
- At one year the centre pair of teeth drops out and two large ones replace them. This is the two tooth
- At about two years to the next two small teeth (one on each side of the first centre pair) drop out and two large ones emerge. This is the four tooth stage
- At 3-4 years the next set drops out and two large ones emerge; this is the six tooth stage
- At 4-5 years the last two milk teeth drop and two large ones emerge, the goat will now be having eight permanent teeth. This is called the full mouth
- As the animal grows older (from six years onwards) the teeth start to wear off, spread apart become loose and finally drop out.
- Management Tips
- At two tooth to six tooth the castrates can be marketed. Start culling at broken mouth stage for does and bucks.
