If you’ve been a livestock farmer for a while but have only recently thought about buying your own scale to weigh your animals with, you probably already know it’s quite the investment. Even though it’ll surely be worth your while, you still want to make sure you get the best kind of scale. Therefore, we’ve put together a list of the most vital things to consider before buying a livestock scale.
Size of the Scale
One of the more apparent aspects to think about is what size scale will work best for you. If you own a chicken coup, buying a scale meant for cows will be way too large for your needs. However, farmers who own or raise multiple types of animals tend to buy a bigger scale to use for all of them. While this might be okay for a short-term solution, you’ll want to consider getting more than one if your livestock’s sizes differ significantly.
Decreasing Shrink Loss
A common problem that many livestock farmers have to deal with is shrink loss. Because of that, farmers want to keep the trips for animals as short as possible. If you need to go somewhere else to weigh your herd, that will cost you more in shrink loss than what is necessary. While buying your own scale will cost some upfront cash, it’ll certainly save you more in the long run.
How It’ll Benefit the Livestock
Of course, one of the most important things to consider before buying a livestock scale is how your animals will handle it. You’ll want to make sure it will fit in a place that will help keep the livestock comfortable. You should also make sure that it’s easy for them to step on and off and not have to worry about slipping around on it. If you’re looking for a cattle scale for sale that comes with a non-slip rubber mat, many of the larger ones we have in stock come with those.
Certifications Necessary
Finally, the process of weighing livestock needs to be as official as possible, which is why you should find a scale that meets Legal for Trade regulations. If you plan to buy a scale for personal use, this qualification isn’t necessary, but it’s still not a bad thing to consider getting in case you ever make a change to your business that requires it. Plus, it will help you ensure that your scale is as accurate as possible.
Give us a call with any questions or for more information. We’re more than happy to help!