Scales
- Thread starter dbc
- Start date
Bama
Well-known member
Scales run 750 - 3000 for most of the ones folks use on the farm. Don't expect much for 750. Most will run in the range of 2000 - 3000. Some bigger operations have them much higher on the scale. It would take several cows to pay for a set at 2500. They can help out a lot in determining rate of gain, cost of gain, weaning weights, etc... You'll jjust have to decide if your operation will pay the cost. Any operation will pay in the long run, it just depends how long it will take to get to the break even point.For a small operation we're talking in terms of years.
rwtherefords
Well-known member
I have an MTI Scale that I bought on sale for $799. It works fantastic, and I've checked it against the certified sale barn scales.
In addition to knowing how your animals are performing, most medications have dosages by weight. You hear all the time how these "expert" weight guessers can accurately tell how much an animal weighs. When you check them with an actual scale, you find that they're not all that accurate.
Under medicating/worming is the risk of not knowing the real weight. Also, if you always over medicate/worm just to be safe, I guarantee you're wasting money on expensive meds/wormer. I'm not saying that a scale pays for itself by savings in meds and wormer, but it does allow you to treat your animals correctly, and the savings in the long run will help pay for the scales.
In addition to knowing how your animals are performing, most medications have dosages by weight. You hear all the time how these "expert" weight guessers can accurately tell how much an animal weighs. When you check them with an actual scale, you find that they're not all that accurate.
Under medicating/worming is the risk of not knowing the real weight. Also, if you always over medicate/worm just to be safe, I guarantee you're wasting money on expensive meds/wormer. I'm not saying that a scale pays for itself by savings in meds and wormer, but it does allow you to treat your animals correctly, and the savings in the long run will help pay for the scales.
imo, it would depend more on the type of operation you plan to run than the number of head. we run both registered & commercial cattle & i really don't see how we could live without it for the registered herd. on the other hand, i can't remember the last time we weighed a commercial calf. any crossbred heifers sold for replacements are sold per head & not per pound. the crossbred steers are sold through the salebarn & i use those weights for my records.
