Why Buy Mobile Cattle Scales?
Posted on: 24 February 2022
If you're looking to buy new cattle scales, then you have to decide whether to invest in stationary, portable or mobile units. While stationary scales are a good option in some circumstances, more portable options such as mobile scales have some extra benefits. What are they?
Take Your Scales To Your Cattle
Stationary cattle scales work well if your animals are kept close to home. You simply set up the scales in one of their sheds or a barn and weigh them in there.
However, stationary scales have a downside — you have to bring animals to the scale. If your cattle are out grazing, and aren't close to home, then you'll have to bring them back to weigh them and then take them back to their fields later. This can be a labor-intensive and time-consuming job especially if you have multiple herds in different locations.
If you invest in mobile scales, then you take the scales to your livestock. You transport the scales to each group or herd, weigh them where they are, and then move on. Your weighing checks will be easier and faster.
Reduce Your Shrink Factor
If you have to walk your cattle to your farm and back again to weigh them before a sale, then this process has a negative shrink factor. Your animals will naturally lose some weight on the journey. Any weight they lose could reduce the price you get for them. The heavier a cow is, the higher its value.
If you use mobile scales, then your herds don't have to travel to be weighed. They'll lose less weight before a sale. So, you won't lose money. In fact, you should see a boost in profits if you can keep your cattle at their optimum weight.
Get Easily Transportable Scales
While regular portable scales work well, you have to find a way to move these scales around. Typically, you're going to need to load these units on to a flatbed truck. You have to unload the scales to use them and then put them back again. You'll need some manpower for this job.
Mobile cattle scales are a lot easier to move around. You usually simply hook these scales up to any regular pickup truck or suitable vehicle. Once you arrive at your weighing area, you set the scales up and you're good to go.
To find out more about mobile livestock scales, contact cattle equipment suppliers like Ackermans online.
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