A set of Tru-Test livestock scales 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.Text

Question 1 - 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 a better solution? 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 under a squeeze chute: The Heavy Duty (HD) is ideal for use with squeeze chutes. The load bars/cells are installed under the chute, and the brackets need to be bolted into concrete to ensure safety and reliability.
  • Portable installation in an alley: The Multipurpose (MP) load bars are designed for use with platforms in alleyways. This is a popular option because the scale system can be setup right before the entrance into the squeeze chute, or anywhere in the alleyway where the animal will be stopping. In addition, you can move this setup around/to another location, etc, as it does not need concrete - it is just on the ground.

Portable install with platform in an alley

Permanent install bolted into concrete

View Load Bar Options

Question 2 - If portable weighing, what are your size requirements for your platform?

The Tru-Test Alleyway platforms are made of aluminum, and have a flat wide base with no sides or sharp edges. The platform has a rubber mat attached for better traction and noise reduction.

View Weighing Platform Options

Question 3 - What do you need from your scale indicator?

Memory storage

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. This data can later be downloaded to a spreadsheet for importing into software. Advanced memory models offer storing of hundreds of pieces of data on an animal.

Basic memory models:

  • EziWeigh7i
  • ID5000

Advanced memory models:

  • XR5000

Smartphone-compatible

All current Tru-Test scale indicators can be connected to a smartphone or tablet (iPhone, iPad, and Android), however, the functionality differs. Realtime weighing-compatible indicators allow weights to instantly show up on the smartphone. Download models allow for downloading of the data after the weigh session has completed.

Realtime weighing models:

  • S3

Download-only models:

  • EziWeigh7i
  • ID5000
  • XR5000

EID-Reader compatible

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.

EID Reader-compatible models:

  • EziWeigh7i
  • ID5000
  • XR5000.
View Livestock Weigh Scale Indicators