Cattle Scale Weigh Bars
There is a simple reason many cattle producers prefer weighing an animal while it is already in the chute: the work is already happening. You have the cattle gathered, the chute is in use, and the animal is contained. Adding a weigh-bar system lets you capture its weight without creating an entirely separate weighing operation.
That is where Livestock Scales at Barn World can fit into an existing cattle-working setup. Instead of building a large permanent scale, weigh bars can be installed beneath a compatible squeeze chute or platform and used as part of the normal livestock-handling routine.
Think About the Day You Actually Need to Weigh Cattle
Imagine a rancher working cattle through the chute on a Saturday morning. A few calves need to be checked, some animals are being sorted, and there are records to update. Without a scale, the rancher has to estimate weights or make arrangements to get the cattle onto another scale.
With weigh bars under the chute, the weight can be recorded while the animal is already where it needs to be.
That makes the scale useful for more than simply answering the question, "How much does this cow weigh?" Actual weights can be useful when monitoring growth, checking animals at different stages, keeping production records, or determining whether an animal is ready for the next step in your operation.
The important part is that the scale becomes part of the cattle-handling process rather than another job that has to be scheduled separately.
The Chute Does Most of the Work
A weigh bar system is different from a traditional platform scale because the chute or other livestock equipment already provides much of the structure used to contain the animal.
The weigh bars sit beneath the equipment. As the animal and the equipment load the bars, the load cells measure the weight and send the information to the digital indicator.
The current MTI-500 system uses two weigh bars, with a capacity of 2,500 pounds per bar and a total capacity of 5,000 pounds. Barn World offers the bars in 33-inch and 40-inch lengths. The system is also designed with mounting tabs that can be used with a chute or platform.
In practical terms, the idea is pretty straightforward: instead of putting cattle on a completely separate scale, the chute becomes part of the weighing system.
A Ranch Example: Weighing Without Changing the Routine
Consider a small cattle operation that works its herd through the chute several times a year.
One trip through the chute might be for vaccinations. Another could be for sorting calves. Another might be a pregnancy-checking day or general herd work.
If the weigh bars are already installed, the operator can zero the scale and record the animal's weight while the cattle are being handled.
That can be particularly useful for calves and growing cattle, where a visual estimate of weight can be misleading. Two animals may look similar standing in a pasture but have noticeably different actual weights.
For a producer keeping records, the scale provides a number that can be compared with previous weights rather than relying on appearance alone.
It Is Not Just for Cattle
Although cattle chutes are one of the most obvious applications, the current weigh-bar system is also designed for other livestock weighing applications.
Barn World lists the system for cattle, hogs, and sheep, as well as applications such as alleyway weighing and portable weighing. With the appropriate platform, the bars can also be used as a floor-scale system for materials such as grain, hay, or produce within the system's capacity.
That flexibility can matter to a smaller farm that does not want dedicated scales for every job.
What Makes Weigh Bars Different?
The first thing you notice about a weigh-bar system is how low-profile it is. The current bars are less than four inches high and have handles that make them easier to move when the system needs to be relocated.
The two bars are connected to a stainless-steel digital indicator. The indicator includes a backlit LCD display, rechargeable battery power, an AC adapter, and functions for zero, tare, gross, and net weight.
The indicator also has an animal-motion hold feature. That matters because livestock rarely stand perfectly still while being weighed. The system is designed to capture and hold a weight even when the animal is moving.
The current system also includes quick-disconnect connections and protective shielding around the bar connections. Those details may not sound important when looking at the scale on a screen, but they become more useful when equipment is moved, stored, or used around a working cattle facility.
33 Inches or 40 Inches?
The choice between the two bar lengths is primarily about the equipment the bars will be used with.
The 33-inch and 40-inch versions both have the same 5,000-pound total system capacity. The right length depends on the chute, platform, or other structure being supported.
Before ordering, measure the equipment where the bars will be installed rather than assuming one size will fit every chute.
If you are replacing an older weigh-bar system, it is also worth checking the existing cables, connections, and mounting arrangement. Barn World currently offers replacement cables and other parts for the MTI-500 system, which can be useful when maintaining an existing setup.
What About a Stand-Alone Platform?
A squeeze chute is not the only way to use the bars.
An optional aluminum platform is available for the system. The platform is approximately seven feet long and is offered in widths that correspond with the 33-inch and 40-inch weigh bars.
This creates a different type of scale. Instead of weighing an animal while it is restrained in a chute, the platform can be used as an open-sided weighing area.
That may make more sense for an operation that needs to move the scale around or weigh animals that do not need to be restrained in a squeeze chute.
One Customer's Take
Older Barn World customer feedback about the MTI-500 gives a useful glimpse into what people were actually asking about when considering the system.
One customer who was considering purchasing the scale specifically said, "I like your scale and would like to buy it," while asking whether it could work with CattleMax livestock-record software.
That question is worth noting because it shows that a livestock scale does not necessarily have to stand alone. For producers who keep digital animal records, the ability to move weight information into a record-keeping system can be an important part of deciding which scale to purchase.
The MTI-500 indicator includes an RS-232 communications port, so anyone planning to connect the scale to software or another device should verify compatibility with the software and connection hardware before ordering.
Don't Ignore the Ground Under the Bars
One of the less exciting parts of a scale installation can have a big effect on how well the system works.
The weigh bars need a solid, stable place to sit. A muddy, uneven, or constantly wet area is not a good foundation for weighing equipment.
That is especially important when the bars are installed underneath a squeeze chute. Mud can work its way around equipment, water can collect underneath the bars, and an uneven surface can affect the way the load is distributed.
Barn World's current product information recommends keeping the bars out of standing water and avoiding submerging them. The bars can be washed down, but high-pressure spraying directly at the equipment is not recommended because water can be forced past seals.
Keep the Scale Simple to Use
The best livestock equipment is often the equipment that people actually use.
If setting up the scale requires moving half the cattle-working area, finding several pieces of equipment, and running extension cords across the yard, it is easy to see why weighing animals might get skipped.
A weigh-bar system can take a different approach. Once installed beneath compatible equipment, it is there when the chute is being used.
The bars have built-in handles, the cables disconnect for storage or transport, and the indicator can be removed when it is not needed. The current system also includes a rechargeable battery and AC adapter, giving the operator more than one way to power the indicator.
What Can You Learn From Regular Weighing?
The real value of a livestock scale is not the number that appears on the display one time. It is the ability to compare numbers over time.
For example, a rancher might weigh calves at one point in the season and again several weeks later. The difference between those measurements provides information that cannot be determined reliably just by looking at the animals.
The same idea can apply to replacement heifers, market cattle, sheep, or other livestock where tracking weight is part of managing the operation.
Actual weight can also be useful when working with veterinarians, nutrition professionals, livestock buyers, or record-keeping programs. The scale does not make those decisions for you, but it provides a measurement to work from.
Before You Order a Weigh-Bar System
Start with the equipment you already have.
Measure the area where the bars will be installed, check the available space, and consider whether the chute is going to remain in one location or whether the weighing equipment needs to be portable.
Then consider how you plan to use the scale. If cattle are already being processed through a squeeze chute, mounting the bars beneath the chute may be the simplest approach. If you need an independent weighing surface, look at the optional platform.
Finally, consider how you want to handle the weight information. If you plan to connect the indicator to a computer or livestock-record system, verify the required connection and software compatibility before purchasing.
A Weighing System That Fits Into the Work
Livestock scales do not have to become another complicated piece of equipment on the farm. For an operation that already uses a compatible squeeze chute, weigh bars can make the chute itself part of the weighing system.
The current MTI-500 system provides a 5,000-pound total capacity, 33-inch or 40-inch bar options, a digital indicator, rechargeable power, animal-motion hold, and the option of adding an aluminum platform. It can also be moved or stored when the weighing setup needs to change.
For a rancher, the biggest advantage may simply be convenience: the next time the cattle are already in the chute, the scale is ready to tell you what they weigh.
See the current Chute Scale Weigh Bars at Barn World for the current system, platforms, replacement cables, and other available components.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can weigh bars be installed under an existing squeeze chute?
Yes. The system is designed to be installed beneath compatible squeeze chutes and other platforms. Measure your equipment first to determine whether the 33-inch or 40-inch bars are appropriate.
What is the capacity of the weigh-bar system?
The current system has a total capacity of 5,000 pounds, with a 2,500-pound capacity for each bar.
Can the weigh bars be used without a squeeze chute?
Yes. An optional aluminum platform is available for creating a stand-alone platform scale.
Can the scale weigh animals while they are moving?
The digital indicator has an animal-motion hold feature designed to obtain and hold a weight even when livestock are moving.
Can the weigh bars be left under a chute?
The bars are designed for installation under livestock equipment, but they should be kept out of standing water and should not be subjected to high-pressure water directly on the bars or connections.
Can the indicator connect to a computer?
The indicator includes an RS-232 communications port. If you plan to connect it to livestock-management software, verify compatibility with the software and the required connection hardware before ordering.