Cattle Scales

agriman

Hi,
For those of you that weigh your cattle I'm just wondering what action if any, ye take from the readings. I finish around 40 bulls a year. I got a scales last year and have weighed the bulls twice since buying them in. Sure it's great to know how much they're gaining per day. There is a fairly big gap between the best and worst performers. They're at grass in 1 group until mid August when I start to bring the best of them in for finishing. If ye identify poor performers what do ye do with them? Any comments appreciated.

Milked out

agriman wrote: »

Hi,
For those of you that weigh your cattle I'm just wondering what action if any, ye take from the readings. I finish around 40 bulls a year. I got a scales last year and have weighed the bulls twice since buying them in. Sure it's great to know how much they're gaining per day. There is a fairly big gap between the best and worst performers. They're at grass in 1 group until mid August when I start to bring the best of them in for finishing. If ye identify poor performers what do ye do with them? Any comments appreciated.

Not weighing the heifers here but the only thing to do really is to seperate out the weakest ones at grass and give a bite of meal to help em catch up and make sure they are on the best grass available. These are dairy heifers ill be breeding with so I have a target to aim for so you may have other options with bulls in terms of finishing or selling which the beef lads will tell u but that's what we do with the group that are behind or smaller

_Brian

agriman wrote: »

Hi,
For those of you that weigh your cattle I'm just wondering what action if any, ye take from the readings. I finish around 40 bulls a year. I got a scales last year and have weighed the bulls twice since buying them in. Sure it's great to know how much they're gaining per day. There is a fairly big gap between the best and worst performers. They're at grass in 1 group until mid August when I start to bring the best of them in for finishing. If ye identify poor performers what do ye do with them? Any comments appreciated.

I presume it would help hone your buying practice and ID the types of stock to avoid as they are less likely to put on weight.

tomieen jones

agriman wrote: »

Hi,
For those of you that weigh your cattle I'm just wondering what action if any, ye take from the readings. I finish around 40 bulls a year. I got a scales last year and have weighed the bulls twice since buying them in. Sure it's great to know how much they're gaining per day. There is a fairly big gap between the best and worst performers. They're at grass in 1 group until mid August when I start to bring the best of them in for finishing. If ye identify poor performers what do ye do with them? Any comments appreciated.

If your in the practice of buying off the farm you can identify the farms that do well or more importantly the farmer to avoid

CloughCasey1

tomieen jones wrote: »

If your in the practice of buying off the farm you can identify the farms that do well or more importantly the farmer to avoid

Buying in weanlings to finish is tricky as coming straight off the cow and some dependant on milk more than others. Every situation is different if ye ask me. That's why some calves don't do as good and need that bit extra

agriman

Thanks for the suggestions

jfh

agriman wrote: »

Thanks for the suggestions

Hi agriman, do you find the scales worthwhile?
Debating getting one on the grant scheme

agriman

I suppose it depends on what you do with the readings. I got one from O Donovans at the ploughing last year. Can't remember how much but it's good. It definitely helps highlight the under performers. What you do with that information is what counts.

MfMan

Can also identify what fields / pastures are underperforming. May also aid in giving you a clue as to which type of cattle are best thrivers / carry more live weight.