The Value of Weighing Cattle

Data is knowledge and knowledge is power, but are ranchers truly operating with the right pieces of data to make confident decisions in all areas of their operation? 

“Most ranchers are making decisions without one of the most valuable pieces of data on their operation, which is actual weights,” says Dawn Anderson CattleScales.com team member and Idaho rancher.  

It’s easy to think actual weights are something only seedstock suppliers take throughout the year to report to breed associations, however knowing birth weights, weaning weights, yearling weights and mature cow weights is highly beneficial for commercial cattle producers as well.  

She says, “Being able to track weights from birth through weaning and yearling gives you a much clearer picture of your herd.” 

Dawn’s family tracks birth weight records to breed for ideal sized calves for their environment.  

“We look at birth weights closely—because too big or too small, both can cause problems,” she explains. “A small calf can lack the energy, and a big calf can struggle too—they’ve got to get up and get moving.” 

As calves mature, knowing weaning weights or even pre-weaning weights eliminates marketing surprises on sale day and opens the door to more informed culling decisions.  

“At weaning, we’re weighing both cows and calves so we can see if those cows are really pulling their weight,” says Anderson. “We use those weaning weights to help make culling decisions and evaluate cow performance.” 

Cows that consistently produce low weaning weight calves or calves with low average daily gain in backgrounding settings can easily be culled from the herd. 

 Average daily gains that are lower than past years could indicate more than a genetic problem. 

 “If something’s off, it prompts you to ask questions—do we need to test feed, adjust the ration, or change something,” says Anderson. “We’ll run cattle across the scale every 30 to 45 days just to see where we’re at.” 

Another added benefit of knowing weights on all classes of animals is reducing treatment costs and improving animal husbandry.

“Pharmaceuticals are costly—they’re really costly if they’re not effective,” expresses Anderson. “If you’re guessing at weight, you may be overdosing or underdosing, and neither one is good.”  

 In summer pasture settings, it’s not practical to bring cattle home to weigh them before treating them. However, even the knowledge of a previous weight is helpful in improving accuracy for treatment dosage.   

There are a variety of scale systems producers can invest in either themselves or share with a neighbor.  

“There’s not a one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to scale systems,” says Anderson. “We start by talking through what the producer’s goals are and what’s going to work best for them.” 

Producers should know which animals they want the ability to weigh, when they want to do this and how they want to use the information to determine which system is the best fit for their operation.  

She says, “A lot of operations are set up where that chute is where all the decisions are being made—that’s where the scale should be.” 

However, there are alleyway or even portable options for producers weighing in multiple locations. 

“There are options—that’s the biggest thing people don’t always realize,” says Anderson. 

 Regardless of the type of scale you invest in or how you decide to utilize weight data, remember it’s about more than just recording a weight to say you have it – It’s about confidence in your decision making. 

 “Having accurate weights gives you confidence in your decisions,” says Anderson.  

Listen to the full conversation on the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast.