4 Things To Consider Before Buying Livestock Scales

Livestock scales come in various sizes and designs. These products can be a significant investment for your farm, so you should do some research before you choose which scale to buy.

The answers to the following questions will help you get started.

1. What Livestock Will You Weigh?

Different scales suit different animals. So, your livestock play a part in this decision-making process.

For example, you might not need large scales if you will only weigh small animals like sheep or goats. However, you will need larger scales if you'll weigh cattle.

If you have different types of livestock on your farm, then you can size your scales to fit your largest animals. However, you should also check that any scales you buy are suitable for your smaller animals as well. If you can't find a one-size-fits-all product, then you might need to buy multiple scales.

2. How Many Animals Will You Weigh?

If you run a small farm, then you might not need to weigh many animals at once. In this scenario, a single-animal scale will typically do the job for you. These scales hold one animal at a time; however, you can set up a line of a few animals to weigh without losing too much time.

If you have large livestock herds that you need to weigh as a group, then you can weigh each animal and then total up their weights. However, this can be a time-consuming process. Full-size scales that allow you to weigh multiple animals at once might be a better option here.

3. Where Will You Weigh Your Animals?

Think about where you will use your scales before you choose a final product. Some farms put scales in one place permanently. They bring their livestock to the scales when they need to weigh them.

In some cases, mobile or portable scales might be a better option. You can take these scales to your livestock. This is often a faster and more convenient weighing solution, especially if you have a lot of land to cover.

4. Do You Need Legal-For-Trade Scales?

If you sell your livestock, then you might need to use approved and certified scales. These scales are tested to check their accuracy; they meet legal-for-trade measurement standards.

These scales give livestock buyers a guarantee that the given weight of an animal has been measured on a standardized scale. Depending on your location, you might need to use an approved device if you want to sell animals at fairs, markets, or auctions.

For more advice, contact livestock scales providers.