Ideas, News, Information, Stories & Opinions

The following suggestions and recommendations are offered in the interest of improving maintenance and livestock weighing practices.

1. Visibility. The weighbeam, dial, or digital instrument should be located so that the weighmaster has a full and unobstructed view of the platform, stock racks and gates. The weighbeam, dial, or digital instrument should be located so that the weighing will be done in full view of the interested parties.

2. Installation. Careful installation by a competent scale mechanic will tend to reduce maintenance costs and improve weighing accuracy. Scales are precision devices and require regular maintenance to assure continued accuracy. Ready access t  ntrance. For a fully electronic load cell scale, access to the weighing elements (load cells) must be provided for the purpose of inspection and maintenance of the weighing elements. freely and have positive latches. The preferred location of gates is at the ends of the platform rather than the sides.

3. Approaches. Approaches should be level and on the same plane as the scale platform.

4. Scale Platform. The scale platform should be waterproof. Weigh beam notches and poises should be kept clean. The weigh beam should be protected by a fabric cover when not in use. Concrete platforms, scored, or well roughened, are recommended. Where cleats are used, they should be of metal or sturdy wooden construction in the form of a hinged grid. Clearance around edges of platform should be not less than ½ inch, and edges should be undercut.

5. Stock Racks. Stock racks should be of substantial wooden or steel construction, and be firmly anchored to the platform. Stock racks should have a clearance of at least 3 inches from all adjacent structures and have adequate side protection to prevent interference during the weighing. Entrance and exit gates on stock racks should swing

6. Maintenance. The scale should be regularly serviced by a competent scale technician. The lever system and structural steel in the pit should be kept well painted. Pivots and bearings should be packed with a protective grease. Periodically this grease should be removed and the pivots and bearings repacked.

 

7. Testing. Scales must be tested at least twice a year by a competent scale testing agency. Adequate provision should be made for access of the testing equipment to the scale.

 

The need to protect crops from hungry wildlife is as old as farming. The knowledge that moving livestock to new pastures improves their diet is as old as ranching. What’s less than a century old is getting these jobs done by putting electricity on fence wires. Around 75 years ago, the tools and techniques for portable electric fencing were developed, and agriculture hasn’t been the same since. Modern electric fencing is one of the most versatile and cost-effective tools available to the sustainable farmer who needs to contain domestic animals or protect plantings, poultry, and livestock from wild animals. For a fairly small investment (as farm equipment and supplies go) you can build and use electric fence for many different purposes, such as separating deer from seedling trees, rabbits from garden lettuce, weaned calves from cows, bears from beehives, or foxes from chickens. Where electric fence has really revolutionized sustainable agriculture is in making rotational grazing (a.k.a. management intensive grazing, or MIG) easy as well as flexible enough to adjust quickly to changing weather and seasons. Portable electric fencing used for rotational grazing will increase the carrying capacity of your pastures, improve the quality of your soils, enhance the overall ecological health of your land,

Check it out! Photo of some Gallagher grazing tumble wheels in use on a grazing dairy. The tumble wheel is moved every day to allow livestock to graze new pasture. These cattle belong to one of our customers in Lancaster County, PA.

FYI: Cattle and livestock scale Technology facilitates consistent and accurate monitoring of animal health by providing timely and accurate interpretations in the form of structural statistics. The advent of imaging tools and livestock scales allow remote monitoring of cattle health and help farmers make informed decisions regarding rearing and feeding patterns. There are multiple makes and models of livestock scales on the market depending on your budget. These automated livestock scales are durable, cost-effective and accurate for:

• Monitoring animal health
• Knowing their exact weight before breeding
• Measuring the conversion of feed
• Evaluating their performance

As livestock scales deliver accurate data, farmers can rely on them for making sound management decisions and increasing their profits

Mar. 1, 2017 – Great Lakes Forage & Grazing Conference, St. Johns, MI. Theme of the 2017 conference is Forages for Optimum Performance and Profit, sponsored by the Michigan Forage Council and MSUE. Contact Kim Cassida with questions about the program and Jerry Lindquist with vendor requests. Click here to register online.

Considerations in Choosing Fencing

Which components to buy and the type of electric fence to build are determined by:

Species and ages of animals to be controlled

Range of soil moisture conditions

Amount of land to be fenced, as measured in length of fence times number of wires

Whether the fence will be permanent or temporary

Your budget

This year’s conference - Celebrating Milestones - will focus on tried and true and innovative methods applicable to grass-based farmers facing ever-changing environmental and economic conditions. Various experts will host sessions focused on the economics of a successful grass-fed beef operation, responsible management of pasture, and the economic and soil health benefits of integrating livestock into cropping systems and purchasing hay.

A brand new venue and some top-notch presenters will be just two of the many features to look forward to.

The conference will be held on Thursday, March 16, 2017 at the Trinity Point Church of God in Clarion, PA

Meet the Speakers...
KEYNOTE: Jim Gerrish - Jim Gerrish of May, Idaho is the owner of American GrazingLands Services, LLC which is dedicated to aiding farmers and ranchers to more effectively manage their grazing lands for economic and environmental sustainability. Jim’s experience includes over 20 years of beef-forage systems research and outreach while on the faculty of the University of Missouri, as well as 20 years of commercial cattle and sheep production on their family farm in northern Missouri. He was the co-founder of the popular 3-day grazing management workshop program at the University of Missouri’s Forage Systems Research Center. His research encompassed many aspects of plant-soil-animal interactions and provides a foundation for many of the basic principles of Management-intensive Grazing. Before moving to Idaho, Jim was deeply involved in the Green Hills Farm Project, a grassroots producer group centered in north-central Missouri and emphasizing sustainability of family farms. His research and outreach efforts have been recognized with awards from the American Forage and Grassland Council, Missouri Forage and Grassland Council, National Center for Appropriate Technology, USDA-NRCS, the Soil and Water Conservation Society, Progressive Farmer, and American Agricultural Editor’s Association. Jim is also a key instructor in the University of Idaho’s Lost River Grazing Academy held near Salmon, ID each June and September.

Dave White - Dave white enjoyed a 33-year career with NRCS, retiring as Chief of the Agency. He will discuss some of the milestones that forward thinking graziers and conservation-minded farmers have made in protecting our nation's resources.

Aaron & Melissa Miller - Aaron and Melissa Miller live in Kinsman, Ohio and are co-owners of Miller Livestock Co., Inc., They have been farming for nearly thirty-five years, and raising grass-fed and pastured livestock for direct-to-market sales since 1999. Aaron graduated from Ohio State University College of Agriculture with a degree in Animal Science. Miller Livestock produces approximately 90 head of cattle, 60 lambs, 200 hogs and 1000 birds each year which are marketed to local restaurants, butcher shops, schools, farmer’s markets, and directly to customers. Aaron and Melissa are also committed local food advocates who actively engage with customers and mentor new farmers.

Jay Fuhrer - Jay Fuhrer is a Conservationist employed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Bismarck, North Dakota. Graduating from North Dakota State University in 1976 with a degree in Agricultural Economics. He has had boots on the ground for the last 36 years working with cropping systems, grazing systems, and cover crops. Jay also has an extensive background working with many groups and entities such as soil and water conservation districts, no-till organizations, farm organizations, urban groups, and more. Currently, Jay spends his time at The Burleigh County Soil Conservation District’s Menoken Farm focusing on soil health and integrating livestock.

Baxter Black - Baxter Black is a rancher and retired large animal veterinarian from Benson, Arizona famous for his appearances on RFD-TV reciting his humorous and entertaining "cowboy poetry". He will NOT be at the conference but has graciously agreed to provide a pre-recorded video welcome of our 2017 conference attendees.

Compare cattle scales here! Gallagher livestock and animal scale systems are high quality durable weighing options for your farm or ranch. Choose from the basic set up or buy EID compatible scale readers and indicators. Pick the best load bars to work under a squeeze chute or weigh cows on the alleyway platform Gallagher makes.

a durable scale for your operation means you can accurately dose cattle and livestock, saving stress and money. Healthy cattle and animals all benefit for you purchase of a cattle scale at www.gallagherelectricfencing.com

Order today and get free USA shipping and the best price around on Trutest or Gallagher weigh scales.