Cattle Weigh Scales

funkey_monkey · 01-01-2023 8:10pm #1

Currently using a Tubar mobile crush with built weigh platform to weigh our cattle. Problem is that it takes two people, a loader tractor and a bit of planning to get the cattle weighed as it needs to be moved into position.

I was thinking that the crush could be parted with for more than the price of a weigh platform. Don't use it as a crush - only for weighing. It's in very good condition for its age. So, I was reading on those who home made them and from what I see that unless its made from aluminium you'd end up with a weighty platform that could still need two folk to move.

Are the aluminium platforms stable - are they able to stay in position with cattle shoving and settling on them - would they scoot out from under the animal? Do flat platforms perform better than the ones with raised sides?

What is there to look for in the reader? I presume EID and all that jazz is not required for small scale users?

Is there any recommended sellers? Over on TFF Allied Weighing in England gets a few mentions. TruTest seems to be the most popular. Gallaghers, Iconix and Dino Argeo are the other ones I've seen.

At the price point now, I'm not sure that an eBay or AliExpress special would work out much cheaper in the long term as any I've looked at are not aimed at this task. Would prefer one which has the ability to hold a weight when the animal settles.

If any of you have one, do you find that the cells last well on them?

emaherx · 02-01-2023 8:32am

I went with a pallet scales from Amazon for about €250. Although I fitted it to a mobile crush so more like your current setup. As for reliability, I've used if for 3 seasons now, 2 weighing per season with 12-15 cow calf pairs and no issues yet, but not too concerned about needing to replace a few weigh cells from time to time either. I think it still worked out good value for a small operator.

I also bought an EID reader last year but not used it yet.

ABitofsense · 02-01-2023 10:07am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120054786#Comment_120054786

Did you use it for BEEP?

mr.stonewall · 02-01-2023 10:11am

Have used both for weighing cattle and it's a chalk and cheese situation. Crush always wins, quicker and better cattle flow. I'm lucky as I only have to work one yard. Another benefit is only having to move the clock.

Weighing is some important for beef farming, its the equivalent to dairying of seeing the litres in the tank. Cattle are weighed approx 4-6 times a year. At turnout, early summer, mid summer, late summer/early autumn, housing and mid winter. Gives great info and you can use it to make better decisions on the direction you want to take certain stock.

Getting back to the main point funkey. If the crush needs moving. Would it work if it could be moved with the tractor 3 point linkage or a set of loader brackets welded onto it some way. This would make it a 1 man job and take the labour out of it

emaherx · 02-01-2023 10:22am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120054934#Comment_120054934

Yes

emaherx · 02-01-2023 10:30am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120054943#Comment_120054943

Weighing is some important for beef farming, its the equivalent to dairying of seeing the litres in the tank. Cattle are weighed approx 4-6 times a year. At turnout, early summer, mid summer, late summer/early autumn, housing and mid winter. Gives great info and you can use it to make better decisions on the direction you want to take certain stock.

I'd agree with this, and would love to weigh more often, but the disjointed nature of the farm make it more difficult, I try to weigh them whenever they are on home farm, I guess handling facilities of the out farms could do with some improvements, perhaps a couple of concrete pads for the scales should be considered.

funkey_monkey · 02-01-2023 11:18am

The home farm and the out farm already have handling facilities so an additional crush is not required.

It can be a hassle to weigh them as we have to cart it between them as stock is wintered in both places. The tractor can't manoeuvre it into position in the out farm so we have to either make up gates to funnel them into it or manhandle it up to the headgate. Also, it is getting much more difficult now to get the mechanical clocks serviced and calibrated. Took me ages to get a contact last time.

Is not the biggest hassle in the world, but the thought we could change system and have money in the pocket. It would then mean that I'd not have to be home to help with weighing as one person could manage the job and more importantly it would be more likely to be done as it works not require as much effort. Out farm stock not weighed as yet this season - tbf partially due to bad weather and outside facilities.

Our cattle are bucket reared so are easily handled. The rise to the platform on the crush is probably between 4" to 6". So if buying, I'd be looking for a low profile platform and I'd consider spraying it with a dark coating to take the glare off the aluminium. I've never understood why trailers don't have the tripper done with black rubber to stop glare and noise as the stock don't like going up on it.

mr.stonewall · 02-01-2023 1:09pm

On the colour side of things screw a strip of conveyer belt rubber (the one with the lugs) to it. Softer on the feet and cattle will stand easier on it.

ABitofsense · 03-01-2023 10:15am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120054964#Comment_120054964

Would you mind sharing a link to the ones you got? Wouldn't mind having my own as I rent one of 3-4 times in the year.

Any issue registering it for BEEP with the icbf?

funkey_monkey · 03-01-2023 2:26pm

Just seen this one when trawling through Done Deal - €525+VAT. No info on its IP rating nor whether it can home in on the weight of a lively animal.

https://www.donedeal.ie/otherbusiness-for-sale/cattle-weighing-scales-for-beep-scheme-we-deliver-nationwide/32243150

They show a nice and basic wooden platform too.

Are these around the going rate for a setup outside of the big hitters?

HHH · 03-01-2023 5:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120059974#Comment_120059974

Looks a really decent job. Anyone have any experience with it? I've looked at the pallet scales on amazon but the weighing beams wouldn't fit into my crush but this one definitely will.

emaherx · 03-01-2023 6:22pm

There was a thread on here before where someone made a real nice platform.

I wouldn't worry particularly about weigh beams being too long, it's easy to shorten them or just make a complete platform and transfer weigh cells.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120058896#Comment_120058896

No issue with ICBF, as long as the clock has a serial number.

This is the one I got, seems to have gone up considerably in price, but be warned I've heard some of these shipped with no serial numbers on the clocks.................. lucky mine has one............ ;)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Industrial-Warehouse-Weighing-Digital-Livestock/dp/B00OZUFO52/ref%3Dsr_1_5?crid=3G5DKVHO8LZ0N&keywords=weigh+beam&qid=1672769550&sprefix=weigh+beam%2Caps%2C62&sr=8-5

Edit: I was mistaken I paid around €400, I think there was a cheaper one with no battery available too.

funkey_monkey · 03-01-2023 6:46pm

Was it @Limestone Cowboy? They made one, but it was quite heavy if I remember right.

I posted a guide to making one, but can't remember where I got it from. I can't find that thread containing it now either.

emaherx · 03-01-2023 6:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120061188#Comment_120061188

Possibly...........

Search function of this site is shite, I had a look but nothing coming up.

Edit: Actually I think you are right, its possibly this thread https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058097664/weighing-scales/p1 but it seems most of the images did not survive the "Great" migration.

Micheal H · 04-01-2023 11:12pm

Here's one I made up 2 years ago. Used the same T-Mech Scales as emahrex posted above and 3mm aluminium checkerplate for the platform. All in cost around €450.

DBK1 · 05-01-2023 12:08am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120067090#Comment_120067090

Very tidy. If you were able to make them at that price you would have made a nice few pound if you’d to stay making them and sell them on. 2 years ago a scales like that was costing around €1,500 to buy from any of the common manufacturers.

funkey_monkey · 05-01-2023 9:53am

@Micheal H - that is a tidy bit of work. Were you able to fold and weld the Aluminium yourself?

emaherx · 05-01-2023 9:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120067090#Comment_120067090

And the famous workbench, still looks the business, possibly even better with some signs of use.

Micheal H · 05-01-2023 10:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120067250#Comment_120067250

Thanks! Definitely wouldn't cost that much now anyway, it'd probably be at least €700 for materials cost and if I was to charge for the amount of man hours that one took me to make, it wouldn't be far off the cost of a commercially available one 😂

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120067883#Comment_120067883

Thanks! Yeah, I was able to bend it, but with great hardship. Made a tool to bend the outer lips a little bit at a time. For the main 45 bend I had to score a line with a slitting disc along the outside and then clamp on a length of steel to bend it into place. Then weld it back up when the bend was finished. And yes, welded it myself. First time welding aluminium, so it took a bit of practice to get everything dialled in, but managed to lay down some decent welds once I got the hang of it.

IMG_20210221_105232.jpg

IMG_20210221_154421.jpg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120071163#Comment_120071163

Ha, well it has plenty more battle scars added since those photos were taken anyway 😁 And at the moment it's buried underneath a full wiring loom and electrics of a Landini 9880 - what started out as a winter project "tidy up" last year has become a 14-month (and counting) never ending ordeal 😫

Jim_11 · 18-01-2023 11:57am

I’ve the same pallet scales as the lads above, welded up and aluminium frame too, tmech display, I find it really hard to get the cattle to stay still enough to get an accurate reading, the reading is always jumping and doesn’t lock onto a weight. Are the other displays any better?

oldsmokey · 01-02-2023 7:52pm

There you have it lads…there’s no cheap way out…unless you’re truly handy, with plenty of time, spend the few quid or manage by borrowing or stealing…

funkey_monkey · 14-01-2024 4:08pm

Platform_Guide_1220.pdf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120061188#Comment_120061188

Here is the link here.

https://agrieid.co.uk/products/livestock-scales

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0021/2074/5011/files/Platform_Guide_1220.pdf?v=1606867464

Made a balls of this. Pdf is at top.

funkey_monkey · 14-01-2024 4:12pm

Seen this one too. Interesting concept, not sure how well or easily it work work in reality:

https://agroninja.com/

Donald Trump · 14-01-2024 4:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120061096#Comment_120061096

No issue with ICBF, as long as the clock has a serial number.

Is there not a list of approved scales? i.e. if you were to get audited, you could possibly be in trouble?

I'm just assuming that btw. I do have a hazy recollection of registering the one here for SCEP and having to put the make down.

I wouldn't see the point in a requirement for a S/N if any old clock would do! You could buy something off aliexpress for a fiver with a S/N, a couple of load cells and cobble that together. You wouldn't be wanting to be trusting the readings though

emaherx · 14-01-2024 4:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121614824#Comment_121614824

There is no approved list, but you must provide a make and serial number, if you get an audit you must be able to produce that scales.

If you have a make and serial number for a clock then where is the issue?

You could have the best scales in the world and it may not be calibrated correctly. I wonder how many with scales ever check the calibration. I've checked mine against deliveries of bulk bags that I had exact weights for and also weighed some animals shortly before sale and it checks out.

For the efficiency schemes the efficiency is calculated on the weight of the dam compared to calf so technically even if the scales was out a bit the formula should still work.