Everything You Need To Know About Livestock Scales
Posted on: 18 July 2022
When you weigh livestock, you need a dependable and accurate scale. Livestock scales come in various types, but all have the same goal: to give you the correct weight so you can make informed decisions about your animals. Here's what you need to know.
What are livestock scales?
Livestock scales are devices that farmers and ranchers use to weigh their animals. It is necessary to weigh livestock to track their growth, monitor their health, and determine how much food they need.
Are there different types of livestock scales?
There are two main variations of livestock scales: hanging and floor scales.
- Hanging. Hanging scales suspend the animal from a beam or other overhead structure, and the weight is read from the dial or digital display. They often weigh smaller animals, such as pigs or sheep.
- Floor. This type of scale is the most common scale used for weighing livestock. It is placed on a flat, level surface, and the animal is led onto the scale. Floor scales can be used to weigh animals of all sizes, from small goats to large cattle.
Floor scales are available both in portable and stationary versions.
- Portable. Portable livestock scales move around the farm or ranch and are typically used to weigh pigs, sheep, and goats.
- Stationary. On the other hand, stationary livestock scales are permanently installed in one location. They are typically used to weigh larger animals, like cows, horses, and deer.
There are also track scales designed for weighing animals that travel on a rail system, such as pigs in a packing plant.
How are livestock scales used?
In order to use a livestock scale, the animal must be placed on the platform and left there for a few moments so that the scale can accurately weigh the animal.
How accurate are livestock scales?
Livestock scales are designed to be accurate so that farmers and ranchers can accurately read their animals' weights.
What are the benefits of livestock scales?
Livestock scales offer many benefits to farmers and ranchers, including:
- Save time. Weighing animals with a hanging livestock scale is a time-consuming process. Floor livestock scales can speed up the process by allowing farmers to weigh multiple animals simultaneously.
- Improve animal husbandry. By keeping track of an animal's weight, farmers can more easily identify health problems and ensure the animal is getting the proper nutrition.
- Optimal weaning. By monitoring an animal's weight gain, farmers can more accurately determine when it is ready to be weaned from its mother.
- Breeding. Farmers can use livestock scales to keep track of an animal's weight gain during pregnancy to more accurately determine the date of birth and the mother's health.
- Less stress. Weighing animals can be a stressful experience for both the animals and the farmers. Floor livestock scales can help to reduce stress by allowing farmers to quickly and efficiently weigh their animals without lifting them.
If you're a farmer or rancher, consider investing in a livestock scale to make weighing your animals more manageable and accurate.
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