6 Best Portable Weigh Scales For Cattle On a Small Farm Budget

Guessing a calf’s weight is a classic farm skill, but it’s a terrible business strategy. Knowing an animal’s exact weight is crucial for calculating feed rations, administering correct medication dosages, and tracking growth for profitability. On a small farm, every dollar counts, and accurate data is the key to making smart management decisions that pay off.

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Gallagher W-0 Kit: All-in-One Simplicity

If you want to get weighing without a fuss, the Gallagher W-0 kit is your starting point. It’s a complete package: two load bars, an indicator, and all the necessary cables. You just unbox it, place the bars under your platform or chute, and turn it on.

The beauty of the W-0 is its straightforwardness. The indicator gives you a live, stable weight and that’s it. There are no complicated menus or Bluetooth pairing to worry about. This is its greatest strength and its biggest limitation. If all you need is a number to write down in your notebook for sale day or deworming, this system is tough, reliable, and gets the job done without a steep learning curve. It’s perfect for the farmer who values simplicity over data integration.

Tru-Test S3 System: Smart Data on a Budget

The Tru-Test S3 system looks similar to basic kits, but it has a powerful secret: Bluetooth. This system bridges the gap between simple weighing and serious data management. The indicator not only displays the weight but can also send it directly to your smartphone, integrating with apps to track individual animal performance over time.

This is a game-changer for anyone focused on genetics or improving their herd’s average daily gain (ADG). Instead of just knowing a calf weighs 550 pounds today, you can see it has gained 2.1 pounds per day since its last weighing. That’s actionable information. You can identify poor performers early or see which feed regimen is actually working. The S3 requires a little more setup to connect to your phone, but the payoff in management insight is massive for a relatively small jump in price.

Homesteader 2200lb Platform Scale Review

Sometimes you don’t need to weigh a 2,000-pound bull in a squeeze chute. For weighing calves, goats, sheep, or even feed bags, a standalone platform scale like the Homesteader 2200lb model is incredibly versatile. These scales are self-contained units with a non-slip platform sitting on built-in load cells, making them truly portable.

The major advantage is flexibility. You can set it up in an alleyway, a small pen, or even out in the pasture for very calm animals. The challenge, however, is getting the animal to stand still on an open platform. A flighty yearling might try to jump off, making it difficult to get a stable reading. For a small, docile herd or for weighing weanlings, a platform scale is an efficient, multi-purpose tool. For larger, more unpredictable cattle, you’ll want the security of a chute.

Agri-Tronics Load Bars for DIY Setups

For the farmer who has more time than money, or a very specific need, building your own scale system is the most affordable route. The core of any scale is the load bars, and companies like Agri-Tronics sell them as standalone components. This lets you turn your existing equipment into a functional scale.

The process is straightforward: you buy a set of load bars and an indicator, then build a wooden platform to sit on top of them. Alternatively, you can bolt the load bars directly under your existing squeeze chute or alleyway frame. This approach requires some basic fabrication skills and careful setup to ensure accuracy. You have to make sure the platform or chute is fully supported by the load bars and nothing else is touching the ground. It’s more work, but the result is a custom scale at a fraction of the cost of a pre-built system.

Your success here depends entirely on your handiwork. A well-built DIY platform is just as accurate as a factory model. A poorly built one will give you nothing but frustration. This is the ultimate tradeoff between cost and convenience.

FarmWright Indicator: Upgrade Your Old Chute

Don’t assume you need a whole new setup. If you have an old but functional squeeze chute, you’re already halfway to a scale system. Many older chutes were built like tanks but lack modern electronics. The most cost-effective upgrade is to retrofit it with new components.

You can buy a set of load bars to fit under the chute’s frame and pair them with a modern indicator like one from FarmWright. This gives you all the benefits of a new scale—fast, accurate readings and even data-logging features—without the massive expense of a brand-new chute. This is the smartest financial move for many small farms. Before you shop for a complete system, take a hard look at the equipment you already own. A simple upgrade might be all you need.

Behlen Country Squeeze Chute Scale System

If you’re starting from scratch or your old chute is beyond repair, an integrated system is the most efficient, albeit most expensive, option. The Behlen Country Squeeze Chute with a built-in scale system represents this all-in-one approach. The load cells are engineered directly into the chute’s design, ensuring maximum accuracy and durability.

This isn’t a "portable" scale in the sense that you can carry it, but the entire chute is designed to be moved and set up as part of a portable corral system. The main benefit is workflow efficiency and safety. Everything works together seamlessly, allowing you to catch, treat, and weigh an animal in one smooth process. There’s no retrofitting or worrying about whether your DIY platform is level.

For a small farm that is serious about growth and plans on working cattle for years to come, investing in an integrated system can be the right long-term decision. It saves time and reduces stress on both you and the animals during processing days, which is a value that’s hard to quantify until you’ve experienced it.

Ultimately, the best scale for your farm depends on your specific goals. Are you simply getting weights for medication, or are you tracking performance to improve your herd’s genetics? Start by defining what you need the data for, and then choose the tool that fits your workflow and your wallet.