4 Important Reasons to Weigh Your Cattle

A report commissioned by The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) found that as of January 2017, there were over 700,000 cattle ranches, farms, and feed yards across the U.S., raising approximately 93 million cattle. Most are small, family-owned businesses, but no matter how many cattle you have, weighing them is one of the most important parts of managing your ranch or farm, as cattle scales are considered a critical part of any operation.

There are many different types of scales to choose from, most of which include a platform, load bar, and an indicator, available in both manual and electronic versions. Some of the more refined options have an internal memory so that you can store an animal's weight history to use for future reference. Portable scales allow for easier monitoring from any area on your property. But no matter which you choose, this is why weighing your cattle regularly is an absolute must.

Determine the Proper Feeding Amount

The data collected after weighing your animals provides a better understanding of whether you need to reduce or increase their feed. It can also tell you if you might need to add more nutrients or make other changes to their diet. With the right conversion rate, you'll be able to determine the best food proportions for achieving specific growth rates within a certain period of time.

Maintain the Health of Your Animals

One of the most difficult tasks of owning cattle is maintaining their health, but it can be made easier when you have a cattle scale, as you'll be aware if sudden weight loss occurs, something that often indicates a health problem. It serves as a highly effective early warning system, much quicker and more accurately than a traditional visual check, allowing you to address any issues before a potential disease spreads to your other animals. For example, certain parasites are common, but through regular weighing, the animals affected can be found and treated specifically instead of treating the entire herd. Timely management of ill stock minimizes time and recovery costs and time as well as the lost revenue.

Evaluating Breeding Performance

By weighing your cattle regularly, you can easily determine the best breed for your business. Those who add weight constantly guarantee healthier calves and a higher return on investment, so they're preferred for breeding. You might even choose to produce a cross-breed of your healthiest cattle based on the data collected from weighing over time. It will also help reduce the impact of price volatility by lowering waste and cost while maximizing output.

Choosing the Optimal Weaning Time

Any calves among your livestock should also be weighed frequently to allow you to choose the optimal weaning time. That decision is critical as it will determine how well the animals are integrated into your herd. You'll also be better able to predict the calves' future growth by analyzing all the weight data captured and reviewing the performance graph to determine the herd performance as well.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or the management of EconoTimes