When most people think of livestock scales they think of cattle scales. However, these scales, depending on their design and features, are also used in other types of livestock farming. Hogs, horses and even goats are commonly weighed on livestock scales both at farms as well as in other areas.

There are a few considerations to keep in mind when considering livestock scales for small or large farms. Since these are an investment, it is a good idea to take your time and look at the various brands, models and designs and consider how they will work with your current livestock handling system and setup.

Stationary or Portable

Depending on your individual need and operation the decision to utilize portable or stationary livestock scales is important.  The need to weigh the individual animals or a group of animals can greatly determine what type of scale system is needed for the farming operation.

Portable Livestock scales options are available for alley weigh and squeeze chutes.  These allow the operator the flexibility of quickly setting up a weighing location around the livestock operation.  Converting your squeeze chute into a livestock scale system is easily done by mounting load cells under the squeeze chute.   Setting up an alley way by placing a light weight portable platform scale inside the alley way makes it easy to capture the weight of an animal without the hassle of relocating them just to achieve weight records.  These portable livestock scales can be utilized on level unimproved surfaces such as gravel.

Stationary livestock scales allow for capturing a group weight of animals.  A stationary livestock scale may also include a customized platform with gates to contain the group of animals, allowing the farmer to corral the group of animals and record an average daily weight gain.  Typically stationary livestock scales are mounted on concrete footings on a level surface.

Getting Information from Livestock Scales

The technology in livestock scales, today, allows these devices to be much more than just weighing equipment. Different models and different brands will offer time and data entry saving options when it comes to recording, tracking and storing information on the animals for production monitoring.

The more advanced types of livestock scales are compatible with herd management software to automatically keep all your records up to date. In addition, some of these models also allow for integration of EID readers, ensuring the special animal is identified by the scale and the data entered in a fully automatic way without the need for the operator to manually select the animal identification through lists in spreadsheets or software packages.

The more technology integrated in livestock scales allows for quick capturing of data during high volume operations.  The ability to capture that data within 5 seconds as compared to 15 seconds can make the difference of a normal day of running livestock over a scale to an extended long day.  For example running 1000 head of cattle over a livestock chute scale with a difference of 10 seconds per animal can save the farmer nearly three hours of labor in one day.

Gate hanging tips

Following recommended gate hanging procedures ensures your gate is stock proof, easy to open and shut, and looks good on the farm.

There is more than one way to hang a gate and most farmers and contractors have their own particular method and reasons.  Because of this, Gallagher interviewed farmers and contractors and used the information from this research to formulate a recommended gate hanging procedure – the idea being to "do it once, do it right".

Good gate installation is important and using well-designed, quality gate hardware can make a significant difference in the life and functionality. Gallagher gate hangers are designed to remain secure in the post for long periods of time, which ensures the gate remains upright and swings freely.

Problem: No voltmeter readings at several locations on fence

A. Probable Cause: Broken or disconnected fence

wire, jumper wire or ground wire

Solution: Connect or repair wire; remove

cause of short; replace jumper connection

B. Probable Cause: Broken or faulty insulators

Solution: Replace faulty insulators

C. Probable Cause: Ground connection rod deteriorated

Solution: Replace ground connection rod

Problem: Low voltmeter readings at several locations on fence....

A. Probable Cause: Energizer is on low setting or

is inadequate for length of fence

Solution: Switch energizer to high setting;

install more powerful unit

B. Probable Cause:Weak batteries

Solution: Recharge or replace batteries

C. Probable Cause: Terminals corroded

Solution: Clean terminals

D. Probable Cause: Ground system is inadequate

or deteriorated

Solution: Repair or replace ground system

How do I protect my horses when they're in pasture?

Use a power fence especially designed for horses.  It's safe and effective.  It teaches horses to respect all kinds of fences and it keeps unwanted animals out of your horse pasture.

Problem: Energizer is operating, but there is no voltmeter reading on the fence with the energizer connected

A. Probable Cause: Ground-return wire is disconnected

or broken

Solution: Connect or repair ground-return wire

B. Probable Cause: Feed-wire terminals are corroded,

disconnected or broken

Solution: Connect or repair feed wire terminals

C. Probable Cause: Broken, corroded or disconnected

live wire or ground-return on fence

Solution: Connect or repair live wire or

ground-return on fence

D. Probable Cause: Soil is dried out

Solution: Install ground-return wire

The type of insulator you need (to hold the fence material on the post that supports it, while preventing the fence from contacting any surface that will cause current to leak) is determined by your choice of electric fence; most manufacturers market insulators specifically suited to their fence products. In general, braid, rope, and coated wire are installed on insulators that allow the fence to slide through. To help prevent chafe and wear on a tape fence, however, insulators need to be the type that clamps and immobilizes the tape (especially important in windy areas), and to be installed vertically on the fence post. Avoid cheap "generic" insulators (often made of brittle plastic), which only last a few years.

Energizer is on, but voltmeter reading is low across

the energizer output terminals when disconnected

from fence.

A. Probable Cause: Energizer is switched to

“low” setting

Solution: Check energizer output switch

B. Probable Cause:Weak batteries

Solution: Recharge or replace batteries

C. Probable Cause: Battery terminals are corroded

Solution: Clean battery terminals

Reasons to Consider Electric Fencing

Electric fencing, sometimes called power fencing, is an effective way to control

livestock on most farms. The only places where electric fences should not be used

are in cattle-handling facilities where quick exits might be necessary or near the

milking facilities of dairy operations.

Advantages

Electric fencing offers two major advantages over other types of fencing. One

is cost. The cost to install a four-strand, barbed-wire fence is about $5,000 per

mile. The cost to install a typical, single-wire, electric fence is about $1,600 per

mile. If necessary, additional wires can be added to an electric-fence for about 10

cents per foot. There could be additional costs to install electric fencing in certain

cases. For instance, Missouri law requires that property line fences be at least four

feet tall and have posts at least every 12 feet.

The other big advantage of electric fencing is its ease of construction, which

improves forage management opportunities. Small pastures can greatly enhance

harvest efficiency and increase the amount of forage produced from a grazing system

because of the amount of rest that is introduced into the system.

Energizer is not on or there is no voltmeter reading

across the energizer output terminals with the

energizer disconnected from the fence.

1A. Probable Cause: Mainline power outage or

blown fuse on input circuit

Solution: Restore power or replace blown fuse

1B. Probable Cause: Energizer is switched off

Solution: Check energizer “on-off” switch.

1C. Probable Cause: Dry cell batteries are dead;

wet cell batteries are discharged

Solution: Recharge or replace batteries

1D. Probable Cause: Battery terminals are corroded

Solution: Clean terminals

1E. Probable Cause: Energizer is faulty

Solution: Have energizer serviced