Cattle measuring tape

[skyhightree1]

I took 10 steers to the sale barn last year swearing they all weighed 500lbs each to my surprise most weight around 350 -390 and I had been looking for a 2nd hand scale to weigh before loading them and havent found one in my trip to to tractor supply they had a tape measure that you wrap around the chest area and I wondered has anyone used those things and if so how accurate are they?

 

[Kingfisher]

If you can ride a wheelie .......you can tape/lie a cow.

 

[skyhightree1]

If you can ride a wheelie .......you can tape/lie a cow.

lol

 

[Nesikep]

I have a formula I use that seems to have served me well, and I can use an ordinary tape measure or a tailor's measure (fiberglass, it doesn't make noise)... I'll dig it up if you want... I don't think I ever was 100-150 lbs off... I think I'm about + or - 5%... a bit of variation between steers and heifers I'm sure

it was something like heart girth in inches raised to the power of 2.6, multiplied by .015... but that's not adding up for me right now and I'd have to check the exact numbers..
I know that a 49" chest is pretty darned close to 400 lbs, and I think 60" is in the mid 600's, 72" is around 1200, and I have one cow that's got a 92" chest, and that works out to about 1900

 

[skyhightree1]

Nesi thats ok you don't have to dig it up its only 6 dollars for the tape measure lol I will try it out I can skip one lottery ticket one day and it will pay for itself lol but do you use a scale before taking to the sale barn or do you use the tape measure.

 

[Nesikep]

we should compare the two results and see how they compare

 

[skyhightree1]

Thats a good idea what I can do is it will say a certain weight at each inch interval and what i will do is if you give me a certain inch amount look on the tape and say what the weight on mine says you do your math and see where we are on the weights I will go back and get the tape maybe sunday I got hay to cut and bale this weekend.

 

[Nesikep]

I'll get the formula I use for the next time I come into town an give it to you... I tested it against a number of heifers I sold at the auction and in the 6-700 lb range it was pretty close, given they were stressed a bit with a 4 hour truck ride there and not very tasty eats (compared to what they're used to) while they were in waiting

 

[Anonymous]

What's your budget for actual scales?

 

[kickinbull]

I have one that has cattle on one side, hogs on the other. I have used it for many years. I used it when I sell bottle calves to weaners. Have taped a few hogs. It is not accurate. But it gives you an idea. Mine measures a little on the heavy side for lbs. So I make sure it's tight, and take off a little. Doing it that way, I can guess them real close.

 

[skyhightree1]

What's your budget for actual scales?

I honestly haven't assigned a budget too it .. because i never saw a used one yet and really don't know what they cost new just figured they were really expensive

 

[skyhightree1]

Kickin that makes sense I appreciate you letting me know that.

 

[Anonymous]

About 500 bucks brand new.

 

[skyhightree1]

Hook I had no idea i did a search online and they were like 2,000 - 2,500 what brand or scale do you suggest?

 

[tripleBfarms]

http://www.palletscales.net/livestock_scales.htm

The VS2200 is $649 with free shipping.

 

[Bigfoot]

The tapes are not accurate, but they are more accurate than my guess is.

 

[skyhightree1]

definately more accurate than my guess i bet you too

 

[Nesikep]

well, if you have something to compare with, your eye gets better over time too... forgot to look up that formula... I'll see if I can find it..

 

[skyhightree1]

no problem. I aint went to TS yet to get it .

 

[Nesikep]

I finally remembered!

weight in lbs = (girth*0.2)^2.61

which works out to
(in) weight (lbs)
30 107
31 117
32 127
33 138
34 149
35 161
36 173
37 186
38 199
39 213
40 228
41 243
42 258
43 275
44 292
45 309
46 328
47 347
48 366
49 386
50 407
51 429
52 451
53 474
54 498
55 522
56 548
57 573
58 600
59 627
60 656
61 685
62 714
63 745
64 776
65 808
66 841
67 874
68 909
69 944
70 980
71 1017
72 1055
73 1094
74 1133
75 1174
76 1215
77 1257
78 1300
79 1344
80 1389
81 1435
82 1482
83 1529
84 1578
85 1627
86 1678
87 1729
88 1782
89 1835
90 1889


I've had a cow with a 92" heart girth... she's the one who had a pair of twins this spring at 110 lbs each