Age and Dentition

Most market specifications include age limits. These are usually defined by dentition, the number of permanent incisor teeth.

It could be important for you to mouth your sheep prior to sale to ensure they all meet their market specification for dentition. Discounts will apply if they don't meet the dentition specifications.

The age of an animal affects meat quality in terms of tenderness, meat colour and flavour.

The exact age at which the next pair of teeth erupts varies from animal to animal. It is influenced by genetics, nutrition and environment.

 

Lamb Dentition

means meat derived from an ovine animal that:

  • is under 12 months of age; or
  • does not have any permanent incisor teeth in wear.

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Figure 1. Lamb definition updated to include animals where one or both permanent central incisor teeth are cut or erupted, but not in wear. Source: Australian Meat Industry Council and Sheep Producers Australia

 

Young Lamb Dentition

means a young female or castrate male ovine that:

  • has 0 permanent incisor teeth (in addition);
  • has no eruption of permanent upper molar teeth.
  • Up to 5 months only

 

Hogget Dentition

means meat derived from:

  • a female or castrate male ovine animal that has one (1) but no more that two (2) permanent incisor teeth in wear; and
  • in males shows no evidence of secondary sexual characteristics.

 

Mutton Dentition

means meat derived from:

  • a female ovine animal that has at least one (1) permanent incisor tooth in wear; or
  • a castrated male ovine animal that:
  • has at least one (1) permanent incisor tooth in wear; and
  • shows no evidence of secondary sexual characteristics.

 
The eating quality of these different age categories can vary. Differences between lamb, hogget and mutton eating quality is usually due to the toughening of connective tissue, adverse flavours accumulating in fat as a result of age and the darkening of meat colour with age.

 

Further information