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There are several processes involved in ranching and weighing livestock is one of the more crucial ones. Information concerning the health and diet of the animals is linked to accurate animal weights. The task of weighing the livestock can be made safer, faster, easier and more cost-effective by using livestock scales. Having livestock scales can make a measurable difference in ranching decisions.
3 Types of Livestock Scales
- Mobile Livestock Scales
These scales can be transported with a pickup truck and taken to the location of the animals. They have a durable design that most often consists of a rubberized deck and steel pen sides, suspended on load cells at four points within a mobile base frame. The cage can be locked down to the frame while transporting the animals. This prevents cage movement and load cell damage during transport. They are easy to use, versatile and are well suited for rugged conditions.The mobile scale employs an independent air ride suspension. This allows you move the scale in and out of the weighing mode by adjusting the air pressure in the airbags. The load is applied to or removed from the cells through a user lift/lower lever system.
- Portable Livestock Scales
They are designed to be transported to multi-weighing sites via flat bed trucks. Most portable livestock scales are suitable to use in harsh and unpredictable conditions of multiple site weighing. They can have a deck and a pen side for a smoother loading and unloading process for the animals.
- Stationary Livestock Scales
These scales are set up at one location and the animals are brought to the scale for weighing. Stationary livestock scales are available in a variety of sizes and capacities and can be used for weighing animals of various sizes and weights. They combine the accuracy of fully electronic weighing technology with steel I-Beam weighbridge designs that are typically found in the heavy capacity vehicle weighing scales.
To make sure that you invest in the right solution for your business, browse through the Insider’s Guide to Buying Livestock Scales.
Importance of Using Livestock Scales
Expected progeny differences are important to some ranchers. This is the measurement of the livestock’s genetic worth, so if the weights of your cattle and livestock at birth, weaning and yearling ages are the important expected progeny difference (EPD) measurements, livestock scales might be a large part of your operations. Moreover, if you need to use dewormers or antibiotics on a regular basis, a scale could prove useful. Numerous medications generally require the animal’s actual weight for dosage calculation. By implementing livestock scales, you can accurately dose the medication.
Benefits of Using Livestock Scales
When you install livestock scales, you can:
- Monitor the health and well-being of animals
- Track the growth of new-born and young animals
- Monitor livestock pregnancies
- Prescribe the right dosage of medication, deworming or supplements
- Determine and evaluate the formulation and amount of feed for livestock
Investing in certified livestock scales can benefit the overall management of the livestock. Contact the Quality Scales Unlimited sales team for more information.