This is a subscriber-only article
Accurately knowing how animals are performing is a vital tool in efficient farming.
Identifying animals falling below daily liveweight targets can pinpoint required changes in management or underlying health issues, while performance recording of finishing animals is a useful aid in selecting for slaughter.
There are a number of aspects that should be taken into account when setting out to purchase a weighing scales.
The number of animals on the holding, facilities already available and the frequency of weighing can all influence decisions.
For example, larger units may be in a better position to justify an investment into a portable weighing crate, while for smaller herds, a weighing platform may be a better fit.
A standard crush platform scales allows farmers to weigh easily in a number of sites. These can be designed and manufactured to fit into crushes of all shapes and sizes.
Weigh crates
Weigh crates are more expensive, but provide a safer and more accurate solution, as animals can be locked into the crate.
These are ideal for farmers working alone and can also be used to do much more than just weighing, as dosing and injecting animals can also be carried out in units fixed with a head gate. Many of these are also mobile and can be transported with three-point linkage.
Scales also vary greatly in weight reading display and data recording, with entry-level units displaying the weight, while more advanced units can record data.
The most advanced units work with software packages and have various add-on components, such as the ability to record data and work in tandem with electronic reading functionality.
O’Donnell Engineering
This portable weighing crate below is quite functional, as it can be useful for farmers who are farming with several different land blocks.
The scales is made from heavy-duty steel with a weight capacity of 3t. It also allows dual power operation from a battery or mains.
It is very useful when dosing or injecting cattle, as they can be restrained in the semi-automatic skulling gate. The price of the unit is €2,150 plus VAT.
The crush platform scales, pictured below, also manufactured by O’Donnell Engineering, can be modified to fit in any non-standard cattle crush.
The crush platform is made from heavy gauge folded chequered aluminium.
The scales contain a 4in lip at either side of the scales to stop cattle slipping off the scales, helping to deliver a more accurate reading.
The scales is 8ft long and has a weight capacity of 4t. There is also a load bar protector installed on this scales to protect the scales from any impact and any dirt or wet that might build up.
The general digital read-out display can be dual-powered, ie from a battery or mains power. The price of the scales is €1,150 plus VAT.
For an additional €150 spend, the read-out display can also be upgraded to an automatic clock that can store the information and can also show liveweight gain among other pieces of key information.
O’Neill Weighing Systems Ltd
The weigh crate below is again ideal when working alone, as animals can be very easily restrained. This weigh crate is much more than a device to weigh cattle, as it can be used to perform a C-section on a cow, suckle calves or dose and inject animals safely.
The weigh crate has a semi-automatic gate at the front of the crush and a spring-mounted shut gate at the back of the crush.
The scales is also easily moved around as it works on the three-point linkage of a tractor. The standard scales can weigh up to 4.5t, while a heavier spec of the scales is also available which can weigh up to 14t. The price of the weigh crate is €2,400 plus VAT.
Meanwhile, the standard crush platform scales is 7ft long and 26in wide, but this can be made any size or shape to suit farmers.
This scales itself weighs 40kg, so can be easily transported. The scales has two load beams, one on either end of the scales, which makes this scales ideal to weigh on level or uneven ground.
The digital clock is powered by two AA batteries, with the battery generally lasting up to six months and there is also an auto shut-off to conserve battery life.
The weight of the animal locks on in seconds despite restless movement. The price of this scales is €1,150 plus VAT.
On both of the above scales, there is an option to purchase the SW5000 software. This device can store up to 10,000 tag numbers and provide useful information such as average daily gain per animal.
This content can also be downloaded to a personal computer. This is available for €600 plus VAT.
DMD Manufacturing Livestock Scales
Sligo-based DMD Manufacturing Livestock Scales has four different types of underlying crush weighing scales, with 90 % of the scales manufactured 26in wide, but again the scales can be made to suit different spaces.
All of the scales contain a 2in lip on either side to stop animals slipping off while weighing. The T1B is the most basic model that is produced.
It ideally suits farmers on small holdings with fewer numbers of animals. This scales gives the weight and the handler records it themselves. The price is €900 plus VAT.
All scales are based on the TI basic, but each model is slightly more advanced than the previous one.
The T1B is followed by the T1 and the T4 models of the scales.
DMD weighing scales-T1 model
These offer extra accessories like a clipboard and come with a stainless steel metal clock. Both models also offer the scales to be powered by either a mains or two AA batteries. The prices of the above scales are €1,000 plus VAT and €1,100 plus VAT respectively.
The T5 is the most advanced model. It is ideal for farmers weighing large numbers of animals on a regular basis.
DMD weighing scales-T5 model
All information is stored automatically, which means weighing can be carried out quickly and efficiently without any stress to the farmer/animal. The price of the T5 weighing scales is €1,580 plus VAT.
All of the above underlying crush scales can also be manufactured into a weigh crate to meet customers’ wishes.
Connaght Agri
Connacht Agri’s flat profile weighing scales has a weight capacity of 2t with the weight spread over four load cells, one in each corner of the scales.
The scales is fully portable, aluminium, rechargeable and waterproof. The scales uses an automatic holding mechanism that gives you a chance to write down the weight average, even if the animal moves away and disturbs the weighing process.
The scales contains one heavy-duty cable with the wires inside, so it prevents any wire damage. The price of the weighing scales is €1,050 plus VAT.
The portable weighbridge supplied by Connacht Agri allows constant monitoring of cattle weights. The weighbridge is a sturdy construction and is designed for both strength and durability and also contains an anti-slip floor.
The scales is mounted on ball-and-socket load cells for greater accuracy. The weighbridge comes with a semi-automatic head gate and a sliding back gate, which also makes the weighbridge ideal for handling cattle for dosing and injecting of animals, etc.
A three-point linkage can also be used for easy transportation. The position of the indicator (clock) can be moved to suit the farmer.
The indicator has a battery life of about seven hours and is easily removed and plugged in for charging. The price of the weighbridge is €2,400 plus VAT.
For both of the above scales, a recorder clock can be purchased for an extra €700. This stores all of the information on the clock so it doesn’t need to be written down manually.
SHARING OPTIONS: