A cattle scale system is an investment, and you want to be sure to to purchase the components to fit your needs and budget. Here are a few helpful ways to determine which indicator, load bars, and possibly a platform will work best for you.

Question 1 - What do you need from your scale indicator?

This is the device you will use for viewing and capturing the animal's weight. A few points to consider:

• Scale indicator memory - Store an animal's weight along with their visual tag and/or electronic id number to save time writing down weights as cattle are weighed.  After weighing your cattle, you can connect your indicator to a computer and download the weights into a spreadsheet or your herd management software.  The EziWeigh6, ID3000, and XR3000 models have memory capabilities.
• Real-time connected to a computer: Connect your scale directly to a computer for real-time recording of weights in your herd management software.  The ID3000 and XR3000 models support real-time computer interfaces.
• Electronic ID (EID) reader interface:Connect an EID reader to your scale indicator for easy recording of electronic ids as animals are weighed - no need to manually enter visual tags or electronic id tags.  The EziWeigh6, ID3000, and XR3000 models support electronic id reader connections.
• Advanced data storage capabilities - Record additional data beyond animal identification and weight, including such fields as pregnancy status, body condition score, or other notes.  This feature is useful when your scale indicator is your primary animal management solution instead of your computer.  The XR3000 model includes advanced storage capabilities.
• Wireless Bluetooth interface - Wirelessly connect to your computer for real-time weighing through Bluetooth instead of relying on a serial port / RS232 cable.  Note that the connection between the scale indicator and load bars still requires cables.  The XR3000 model has an optional Bluetooth interface.

View cattle weigh scale indicators 

Question 2 - How will you be weighing your cattle?

Will you be weighing cattle in a permanent installation, such as a squeeze chute, or is a portable option needed? The weigh scale indicator connects to the load bars, and the model of load bars needed will depend on permanent vs portable installation and length of load bars needed. 

• Permanent installation such as a under squeeze chute: The Heavy Duty (HD) is ideal for use with squeeze chutes. 
• Portable installation in an alley: The Multipurpose (MP) load bars are designed for use with platforms, crates, cages and in alleyways.

View load bar options 

Question 3 - If portable weighing, what are your size requirements for your platform?

Two Tru-Test platforms are available: the Aluminum Platform and the Diamond Series Platform.

The major difference between the 2 platforms: the Aluminum platform has sides, whereas the Diamond Series ones do not. Within the Diamond Series are 2 platforms which differ by length and width.

View platform options