Determination of the age in the Throughbred during the replacement period

Abstract

A statistical study is presented dealing with the average time at which the replacement of the temporary incisor teeth by the permanent ones is performed in Throughbred kept under training conditions at Jockey Club of S; Paulo, Brazil. For this purpose, 356 horses were examined. From these, 82 were excluded and the remainders 274 (147 males and 127 females) divided in four groups in accordance with the eruption of their incisor teeth: a) without permanent incisors - 68 horses (36 males and 32 females); b) with either one, two, three or four permanent pincers - 86 horses (41 males and 45 females). c) with all the permanent pincers, and either one, two, three or four permanents intermediates - 77 horses (42 males and 35 females); d) with all the permanent pincers and intermediates and either one, two, three or four permanent corners - 43 horses (28 males and 13 females). The actual age of each horse was controlled by the Stud Book records; 30.4 days was the period considered as month average. Sex differences showed no statistical signification at age for teeth replacement. For this reason males and females were computed all together.