cattle weighing scales

epfff

Who has one
how often do you use
are they worth buying

bob charles

I have one, use it about 16hrs a day and came free with my head.

Scales are a bit of a novelty IMV, I see them on plenty of farms parked against a wall after getting allot of use in the first few years after buying

reilig

If you really want to test it out, buy a weight measuring tape.

http://www.magentadirect.ie/proddetail.php?prod=MAE0128


We bought one last year and weighed all the weinlings before selling. We were spot on for 90% of them, and no more than 5 or 10 kg out for the rest!

Sam Kade

reilig wrote: »

If you really want to test it out, buy a weight measuring tape.

http://www.magentadirect.ie/proddetail.php?prod=MAE0128


We bought one last year and weighed all the weinlings before selling. We were spot on for 90% of them, and no more than 5 or 10 kg out for the rest!

You don't even need a weight measuring tape all you need is an ordinary tape and some calculations. I mentioned how to do it on previous threads a few years ago but gave up because farmers on here would rather spend €1k + on a scales.

Muckit

reilig wrote: »

We were spot on for 90% of them, and no more than 5 or 10 kg out for the rest!

One good sh*t would test ye though :pac:

severeoversteer

bought one last year , its important to have it set up and working without hassle , because if they aren't easy to use they will be left in the shed gathering dust

lakill Farm

I have one and i use it every 1 month on calves/weanlings and 4-6 weeks on yearlings

I have an excel sheet done up to record dates, weights and tag no.

The Nutty M

lakill Farm wrote: »

I have one and i use it every 1 month on calves/weanlings and 4-6 weeks on yearlings

I have an excel sheet done up to record dates, weights and tag no.

Same as that,we have one here.Once a month all pedigree calves are weighed,every year the mammys. We find it a good accurate indication of LWG which in a small ways dictates the breeding programme.

epfff

lakill Farm wrote: »

I have one and i use it every 1 month on calves/weanlings and 4-6 weeks on yearlings

I have an excel sheet done up to recorr dates, weights and tag no.

Lovely but what advantage is known their exact weight over a gustimate usually from their coat etc you will see if thriving
it's just friend keeps telling me they are the job
yet he has not got 1

Muckit

lakill Farm wrote: »

I have one and i use it every 1 month on calves/weanlings and 4-6 weeks on yearlings

I have an excel sheet done up to record dates, weights and tag no.

Erra you'd want to go all the way and get a tag reader and then let Bluetooth or something update the pluter inside and smart phone automatically :pac: Then can scan through results with the lads down the pub later on that evening with your legs well spread on high stool to air out the b*ll bag

Going forward...

Makes a whole lot more sense to ensure their feed requirements, dosing etc is right, weights will take care of themselves then. In my case with calving at 2yo, there aren't periods where she can meander, she needs to be on it at all times.

lakill Farm

Muckit wrote: »

Erra you'd want to go all the way and get a tag reader and then let Bluetooth or something update the pluter inside and smart phone automatically :pac: Then can scan through results with the lads down the pub later on that evening with your legs well spread on high stool to air out the b*ll bag

there be no cattle chat down the local. it holds about 10 lads in the bar max.

Muckit

lakill Farm wrote: »

there be no cattle chat down the local. it holds about 10 lads in the bar max.

Love Glasson ! :pac:

LivInt20

Bought one last year €800 second hand. One of the best buys ever. Weighing suckler calves monthly, year olds on turnout, and again mid way through summer.

As farmers we get paid by kgs produced on farm and nothing else.

If you can't tell accurately what weight your cattle are, and what the daily liveweight gain (DLG) is, then it is going to be harder to make any profit from farming cattle.

Guessing DLG is no good, and being a small bit out in overall weight in kgs can be substantial in DLG.

Dairy men know daily how much milk they produce, and what cow is doing what.

Beef men need to know sooner, than when an animal stands on the scales at a mart, what they are producing accurately in kgs of liveweight.

Many farmers will be surprised by the results, especially by how little cattle gain over the winter.

Muckit

LivInt20 wrote: »

Many farmers will be surprised by the results, especially by how little cattle gain over the winter.

But will the scales do anything to solve that, only wreck your head?!

LivInt20

Muckit wrote: »

But will the scales do anything to solve that, only wreck your head?!

You can take steps to correct it, such as, feed meals, make better silage, grow more grass, get rid of poor performing cows.

All of the above will lead to more profit, or turn a farming loss into profit.

bob charles

LivInt20 wrote: »

You can take steps to correct it, such as, feed meals, make better silage, grow more grass, get rid of poor performing cows.

All of the above will lead to more profit, or turn a farming loss into profit.

yip but you dont need a scales to tell you most of the above, These are things people are trying to do anyway

LivInt20

bob charles wrote: »

yip but you dont need a scales to tell you most of the above, These are things people are trying to do anyway

Yes, but people may think they are doing these things already.

You cannot manage what you cannot measure.

Therefore the end product is kgs produced and out the gate and this needs to be measured.

Dampintheattic

LivInt20 wrote: »

You can take steps to correct it, such as, feed meals, make better silage, grow more grass, get rid of poor performing cows.

All of the above will lead to more profit, or turn a farming loss into profit.

I class the worst performing cows by the price I get for her weanling, not by its weight.
It's the revenue the cow generates that tells the real story.

MfMan

Scales have told me which fields are performing poorly in terms of stock (non / reduced) thrive. As good a reason as any to have one.

Sam Kade

MfMan wrote: »

Scales have told me which fields are performing poorly in terms of stock (non / reduced) thrive. As good a reason as any to have one.

But surely as cattle have spurts of growth you cannot figure how much they thrived while they were in a certain field? If you could it would mean weighing cattle every time you move them to a different paddock/field.

locha

Wouldn't be without ours. All cattle weighed coming in and out of farm. Interesting to see the "variations" on weight at the mart and the weight 3 hours later....

bob charles

Sam Kade wrote: »

But surely as cattle have spurts of growth you cannot figure how much they thrived while they were in a certain field? If you could it would mean weighing cattle every time you move them to a different paddock/field.

also there is a dramatic weight gain change with weather conditions. and there are good and bad thrift fields no matter what you do to them.

Dampintheattic

God be with the days, when there was no weighing scales, no five star bulls, no ICBF wreck your head crap, no farming and forrestry discussion thread, no SFP, no inspections, ............... none of that codology.:cool:

Sam Kade

Dampintheattic wrote: »

God be with the days, when there was no weighing scales, no five star bulls, no ICBF wreck your head crap, no farming and forrestry discussion thread, no SFP, no inspections, ............... none of that codology.:cool:

No knackery fees just bury the dead, no movement permit, yearly tb and brucellosis testing at no charge not even a charge for the brass tag

bob charles

Dampintheattic wrote: »

God be with the days, when there was no weighing scales, no five star bulls, no ICBF wreck your head crap, no farming and forrestry discussion thread, no SFP, no inspections, ............... none of that codology.:cool:

........and there was money being made. So much for progress

leg wax

Dampintheattic wrote: »

I class the worst performing cows by the price I get for her weanling, not by its weight.
It's the revenue the cow generates that tells the real story.

i have been waiting for some one to make this point,weight only pays if you have quality to go with it.weight does not pay the bills its what the final cheque is.

locky76

I have a scales which i use for DLWG approximately every 3 months for all cattle I'm finishing, it allows me to predict accurately, for sucklers to beef or if i buy in cattle, when I'll be sending them to the factory- great tool for cashflow etc.
It also allows me to predict based on historical data what cattle will put on in certain periods of the year... first housing weight, Store period gain, spring gain, summer gaain, autumn gain, finishing gain.
I weigh all cattle before they go to the factory to allow me see what their killout % is.
Also it allows me to buy cattle farm to farm locally and agree a price per kg based on what's been paid for similar cattle in the marts- €1.85 per kg for yearling AA cattle in April this year- both parties don't have the hassle of the mart, the seller gets paid for a fresh weight and the buyer isn't bringing home disease/stress from the mart...
It's not major work when they get used to it, i give them a shake of nuts so they're happy with this, an hour does 40 yearlings...

Sam Kade

locky76 wrote: »

I have a scales which i use for DLWG approximately every 3 months for all cattle I'm finishing, it allows me to predict accurately, for sucklers to beef or if i buy in cattle, when I'll be sending them to the factory- great tool for cashflow etc.
It also allows me to predict based on historical data what cattle will put on in certain periods of the year... first housing weight, Store period gain, spring gain, summer gaain, autumn gain, finishing gain.
I weigh all cattle before they go to the factory to allow me see what their killout % is.
Also it allows me to buy cattle farm to farm locally and agree a price per kg based on what's been paid for similar cattle in the marts- €1.85 per kg for yearling AA cattle in April this year- both parties don't have the hassle of the mart, the seller gets paid for a fresh weight and the buyer isn't bringing home disease/stress from the mart...
It's not major work when they get used to it, i give them a shake of nuts so they're happy with this, an hour does 40 yearlings...

Do you take the scales to the farm you purchase from locky?

Muckit

locha wrote: »

Wouldn't be without ours. All cattle weighed coming in and out of farm. Interesting to see the "variations" on weight at the mart and the weight 3 hours later....

Muckit wrote: »

One good sh*t would test ye though :pac:

MfMan

Sam Kade wrote: »

But surely as cattle have spurts of growth you cannot figure how much they thrived while they were in a certain field? If you could it would mean weighing cattle every time you move them to a different paddock/field.

If the cattle are in fields around yard, I usually do when moving them about. In one particular field a bunch lost c. 10kg/head over the course of about 10 days. Makes one determined to reseed this field.

locky76

Sam Kade wrote: »

Do you take the scales to the farm you purchase from locky?

no, I pick them out with the seller, we agree a price per kg, he brings them down, we weigh them at my place, get the calculator out and he goes away with a cheque in the arse pocket...

gerryirl

has anyone bought a scales lately. There was a fella selling them on donedeal for €600 but not anymore. Anyones I've looked at are €1100 which seems alot for what it does

Farrell

gerryirl wrote: »

has anyone bought a scales lately. There was a fella selling them on donedeal for €600 but not anymore. Anyones I've looked at are €1100 which seems alot for what it does

Yea got one in local store earlier in the summer €1000, O'Neill have 1 at €1150 + vat, & others quoted me €1400.
Have been told can't get vat back as not fixed.
Very happy with it, used it for lambs & was dead accurate for drafting to the mart.
If I was you I'd hold off until ploughing, they'll all be there & could get a good deal, but up to yourself

Zr105

gerryirl wrote: »

has anyone bought a scales lately. There was a fella selling them on donedeal for €600 but not anymore. Anyones I've looked at are €1100 which seems alot for what it does

Think the one for 600 was a pallet scales, was square rather than long, and would be a fairly basic clock that wouldn't be able to give an accurate reading with the animal jumping around tho...

Greengrass1

Neighbour has a crate with scales here that he takes away with him to out farm. He has a manual clock type one in it. Are they accurate?

farm14

Bought a scales recently. I have problems getting cattle to go up on it in the crush not convinced by accuracy either. An o neills weighing scales

Farrell

farm14 wrote: »

Bought a scales recently. I have problems getting cattle to go up on it in the crush not convinced by accuracy either. An o neills weighing scales

We had it at the front & backing bar bahind, worked but that was cows.
Sheep were easier.

Roundbale

farm14 wrote: »

Bought a scales recently. I have problems getting cattle to go up on it in the crush not convinced by accuracy either. An o neills weighing scales

Cover it with a nice coat of sh1t, makes a huge difference. Also after the first time they'll get used to it, they're a bit high alright. On the accuracy, make sure it's not caught against the wall or bars of the crush and it's clean under it. Test it every few times by hopping up yourself and check the reading.

farm14

Roundbale wrote: »

Cover it with a nice coat of sh1t, makes a huge difference. Also after the first time they'll get used to it, they're a bit high alright. On the accuracy, make sure it's not caught against the wall or bars of the crush and it's clean under it. Test it every few times by hopping up yourself and check the reading.

Unfortunately I dont think its 100% accurate you notice its never less than 5kg for example if a bullock was 547kg (real weight), on the scales it would either be 545kg or 550kg. I know its probably not a big difference but still its nice to have it accurate. Do any of you bolt it down? I dont want to as have an outfarm too & would want to move it. But yeah I had problems getting cattle to go up on it the other day. Some would & some wouldn't. Its near the front of the crush. If anyone has any tips would appreciate it.

farm14

Farrell wrote: »

We had it at the front & backing bar bahind, worked but that was cows.
Sheep were easier.

Would you weigh your sheep regularly?

Limofarmer

When setting scales up in the crush cover the lead up to the sales in some hay or straw in onto scales itself . They don't notice it as much and it tones down the change in sound when they stand up on it . Most stock if let wander up crush at there own pace with you following calmly along outside of crush will stand up on it with all fours long enough for weight to lock . Remember with bigger cattle cows etc you may need to keep scales back up as much as 12 inches from head gate to allow the enough room to get back legs up . Hope that helps .

Farrell

farm14 wrote: »

Would you weigh your sheep regularly?

We weighed lambs a few times during the summer to see if ready.
Lad in BTAP does it every week, to see gain on fields & ewe, might give a go next year

lakill Farm

farm14 wrote: »

Unfortunately I dont think its 100% accurate you notice its never less than 5kg for example if a bullock was 547kg (real weight), on the scales it would either be 545kg or 550kg. I know its probably not a big difference but still its nice to have it accurate. Do any of you bolt it down? I dont want to as have an outfarm too & would want to move it. But yeah I had problems getting cattle to go up on it the other day. Some would & some wouldn't. Its near the front of the crush. If anyone has any tips would appreciate it.

sure the mart only weights to the nearest 5kg

I have an oneills weighting scales this 2 years and its still weights perfect. Its amazing to see cattle lose 25-35kg between leaving yard and going in the ring at the mart

Limofarmer

My scales weighs to the nearest kg and will lock a weight I think once the scales reads the weight for 3 seconds . Most scales have a setting that can alter all these settings.when my scales is switched on there is an option to select animal weighing function. It would be advisable to have your scales calibrated every so often to ensure accuracy . It's a good idea to have something heavy about the place that you know the weight for to be able to check it the odd time .

ganmo

lakill Farm wrote: »

sure the mart only weights to the nearest 5kg

I have an oneills weighting scales this 2 years and its still weights perfect. Its amazing to see cattle lose 25-35kg between leaving yard and going in the ring at the mart

**** and piss are heavy ould things.

We'd weight the lambs here fairly regular this time if year, between being full of grass or a wet fleece they could be weighing a couple kg heavy

severeoversteer

farm14 wrote: »

Bought a scales recently. I have problems getting cattle to go up on it in the crush not convinced by accuracy either. An o neills weighing scales

i use a digger to shove them up the crush, put the bucket at their arse and track up alongside the crush, mighty job altogether

better than flaking them with hydrodare

Muckit

If a lad hadn't a digger handy could he use a shovel?

farm14

lakill Farm wrote: »

sure the mart only weights to the nearest 5kg

I have an oneills weighting scales this 2 years and its still weights perfect. Its amazing to see cattle lose 25-35kg between leaving yard and going in the ring at the mart

Do you have the one that has bluetooth to allow you to transfer weights to phone?