Since cows are herbivores, they feed exclusively on solid foods.
In order for representatives of cattle to be able to obtain all the necessary substances from food, they must chew it carefully with the help of strong and reliable teeth.
The structure of the jaw in cattle
The main feature of the jaws of cows is that the lower jaw is much narrower than the upper one. Thanks to this feature, animals can easily chew food on one side or on the other. 
Does a cow have upper front teeth?
The upper jaw of the cows lacks incisors and canines. All functions of such teeth are performed by a plate, which is located opposite the lower incisors.
Cows need incisors not for chewing food, but in order to tear the grass off the ground. All the teeth are arranged in arcades, that is, in rows, which allows cattle to grind food well in the mouth.
Did you know? Cows have a very developed sense of time, so the herd lives according to its internal routine, which is strictly followed by each cow.The tongue plays an important role in the process of chewing food, because it takes part in ingestion of food and feed. Also, the tongue allows you to mix food well, and then sends it into the esophagus.
How many teeth does a cow have?
The number of teeth in an adult cow is the same as in humans - 32. 8 units are incisors that are located exclusively on the lower jaw, the remaining 24 are indigenous, which are located both on the upper and on the lower jaw. 
When a cow's teeth change, and how do symptoms appear
Approximately at the age of two and a half years, a process occurs in cattle, which has the name of bison. This process consists in the loss of the upper teeth, which are replaced by a single solid plate. Symptoms that indicate the beginning of such a process:
Important! The process of tooth loss is quite long, so you need to constantly monitor the animals. If the cow feels normal and the appetite does not deteriorate, then there is no need to perform any manipulations.
- strong shakiness of teeth;
- teeth can be found near the individual;
- the animal may abandon the coarse species of food;
- salivation in large quantities;
- the depressed state of the animal;
- reduction in the amount of milk yield;
- the temperature does not rise.
A cow grits its teeth: reasons for what to do
There are a number of reasons why cows can grit their teeth. Some of them may indicate serious illness in an animal. The following are the reasons and ways to solve them:
- A cow licks walls and earth, other objects that surround it. This is a sign that the animal lacks any vitamins. The decision in this case will be a review of the diet and making changes by adding additional feed.
- The calf is born without an instinctive reflex, namely chewing gum. Thus, the animal will chew food even in its absence in the oral cavity. The solution is to make changes in the diet, prevent rickets and regularly check the feed for the presence of sand.
- Emerged gastroenteritis. In addition to the squeak of the teeth, animals have an increase in body temperature, as well as an upset gastrointestinal tract. The solution is to eliminate from the diet of stale feed, which are the cause of all the above symptoms.
Important! If you experience any symptoms and ailments, it is best to contact a qualified specialist, since the symptoms of different diseases may be similar.
Determination of age of cattle in the teeth
There are situations when it is necessary to determine the actual age of the cow. To date, there are several ways, but the most common and popular is the method of determining the age of an individual in the teeth.
In cows of the meat direction, teeth grow much faster than in representatives of the dairy direction. For this reason, the method of determining the age of the teeth is not 100% reliable, but it is the easiest and fastest. Age is often determined by incisors, because the molars are difficult to see due to their location.
Learn about the general anatomical features of cows, the structure of their udder and eyes.There is a generally accepted table for determining the age of cattle in the teeth:
- 18 months - all existing incisors are milky;
- 24 months - all hooks become permanent, and the remaining teeth are still milk;
- at the age of 3 years, all hooks and intermediate internal teeth become permanent;
- up to 4 years, there are more and more permanent teeth, along with the above permanent ones, they also become medium outer, but the edges are still milky;
- from 4 to 4.5 years, all teeth become permanent, and the crowns begin to go one after the other;
- at the age of 5, crowns stop coming in one after the other, and a surface appears on the edges, which is rubbing;
- at the age of 7 to 7.5 years, more than half of the enamel is wiped on the hooks from the side of the tongue;
- up to 10 years all enamel is wiped on the incisors;
- at the age of 12, all enamel on the incisors is erased from the side of the tongue;
- in 15 years crowns are erased on all incisors.
After attaining a cattle of 12 years, it becomes quite difficult to determine the age of an individual, since often the stumps alone remain from the teeth.
Did you know? The heaviest cow in the world - Mount Katahdin, a Holstein-Durham hybrid - reached a weight of 2270 kg (1906-1910). According to the Guinness Book of Records, she was at the withers 1.88 m and 3.96 m in girth.From the above, we can conclude that it is necessary to monitor the mouth cavity of cows very carefully, since their health and productivity depend on it.
Reviews about changing teeth in a cow
And for the prevention of paresis, it is necessary to balance the diet as much as possible in recent months before calving, to spend frequent walking the cow, and after calving, I always feed topinambur. So far, we have managed only one paresis 3 years ago.
