How to keep your livestock still while weighing them

February 12, 2025 31

You want your animals to stay happy and healthy, which means keeping an eye on their weight—because even cows need to watch their figures! Regular weigh-ins can help you monitor your livestock’s health and make adjustments to their diet or exercise routine if need be.

But your livestock sure know how to turn weigh-ins into a rodeo, don’t they? They wiggle, they squirm, and seem to have a knack for escaping the scale. So how do you get them to stay put on the scale long enough to actually get a true reading—glue, duct tape, bribery? None of those are necessary! With a little preparation and some gentle persuasion, you can keep your livestock still while weighing them.

Preparing your weighing area

Start by setting up a designated weighing area for your livestock. This can be in a barn, corral, or any other enclosed space where you can safely handle and weigh your animals. Do a sweep of the area to check for potential hazards or distractions that could startle your animals or make them bolt.

Next, set up your scale in a stable and level location. Calibrate it by placing known weights on the scale and adjusting it if necessary. You want to make sure your scale is accurate before weighing your animals. Otherwise, all that work you put in to keep them still will be for nothing!

Once your area and scale are ready, gather all necessary supplies such as halters, lead ropes, and treats. These will come in handy when trying to keep your animals still during the weighing process.

Gentle persuasion techniques

Now it’s time for the magic trick to keep your livestock still while weighing them—gentle persuasion techniques. This involves using positive reinforcement and avoiding negative experiences that create fear or resistance in your animals.

Start by slowly introducing your animals to the weighing area and scale. Allow them to explore and get comfortable with their surroundings. Use treats and verbal praise as a form of positive reinforcement when they show signs of calmness and cooperation.

When it’s time to actually weigh your animals, use a halter and lead rope to gently guide them onto the scale. Be patient and let them take their time stepping up. If your animals are particularly skittish, you can try placing a towel or blanket over their eyes to help them feel more secure and calm.

Make use of your scale’s functions

Did you know some scales have a Hold function you can use while weighing animals? This function doesn’t magically hold them in place, but what it does do is lock in the weight measurement once your animal reaches a stable position on the scale. This can be helpful for animals who tend to fidget or move around while being weighed.

Another useful function is the Tare function, which allows you to subtract the weight of any equipment (such as a halter) from the overall weight measurement.

Use these functions to your advantage to make the weighing process smoother and less stressful for both you and your animals.

Weigh-in day is never a fun day on the farm or ranch. But it doesn’t have to be a complete and “uddder” disaster either. Most animals will remain fairly still if you take the time to acclimate them to the scale area before weighing. A kind, patient approach—and a few treats—can go a long way. As for those little wiggles, you can make up for them by using your scale to its fullest potential. Follow these tips to get accurate readings on your livestock’s weights so you can keep them happy, healthy, and productive.