Teeth Trimming Gives Sheep Extra Years Of Grazing

Teeth trimming gives sheep extra years of grazing LIVESTOCK Sheep/Goats 10-6-23 Teeth trimming, called "the biggest revolution in sheep husbandry in 50 years," in Australia, is a low-cost way to give sheep two extra years of grazing. "It means older ewes can be culled for performance rather than for having a broken mouth," according to a recent report in FARM, a leading Australian farm magazine. Two methods of teeth trimming, both of which use a gag in the sheep's mouth, are becoming popular: 1. The "Pederson Method," developed by Jens Ambjerg-Pederson, of Naracoorte, South Australia. It involves grinding down the teeth using a rough ceramic grinding disc in an angle grinder. 2. The "Caldow Method," (pictured), developed by Howard Caldow, of Cavendish, Victoria, Australia. It involves cutting off the teeth at gum level with masonary cutting disk in an angle grinder. "With both inventors advocating different methods of teeth trimming and the best age to do it, considerable debate still surrounds the techniques. However, the benefits of trimming by either method are now recognized. The two gags can be used for either teeth cutting or grinding," the report in FARM points out. Prior to the development of teeth trimming, farmers would cut teeth off with sidecutters or pull them out completely. "Both of these operations were dubious from an animal welfare point of view and no evidence existed that they improved productivity or life expectancy of the sheep. The new system of teeth trimming is not painful."

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