6 Best RFID Scales for Herd Management

We’ve all been there: a clipboard getting soggy in the rain, an ear tag number smudged with mud, and a calf that refuses to stand still. Trying to match a scribbled weight to the right animal is a frustrating, error-prone chore that can make you question why you even bother. This is precisely where modern technology steps in, turning a chaotic task into a streamlined, data-gathering powerhouse.

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Why RFID Integration Is a Game-Changer for Cattle

Switching to an RFID-enabled scale system is less about weighing and more about knowing. Instead of just capturing a number, you’re instantly linking that weight to a specific animal’s entire history. The process is lightning-fast: the animal steps onto the scale, the reader scans its Electronic Identification (EID) tag, and the weight is automatically recorded against that unique ID. No more shouting numbers or fumbling with pens.

This immediate, accurate data link is what transforms your management. You’re no longer just guessing which calves are your best performers; you can see their average daily gain (ADG) right on the screen. You can track treatment dates, monitor weight loss that might signal illness, and make culling or breeding decisions based on hard data, not just a gut feeling. It turns every trip through the chute into an opportunity to build a powerful, actionable record for every single animal in your herd.

Tru-Test S3: Simple, Bluetooth-Enabled Weighing

The Tru-Test S3 is the perfect entry point into RFID weighing. Think of it as the digital replacement for your notepad and spring scale, but with far more accuracy and convenience. Its primary job is to capture a weight, link it to a scanned EID tag, and hold that information for you. It’s simple, rugged, and gets the fundamental job done without overwhelming you with features.

The real magic of the S3 is its Bluetooth connectivity. It sends the weight and EID data directly to the Tru-Test Data Link app on your phone. This means you can stand by the chute, weigh your animals, and have a clean, digital record created instantly on your phone to download or email later. There’s no screen to navigate or complex menus to learn.

This model is ideal for the farmer whose main goal is to collect accurate weights for performance tracking or sale day. The tradeoff is that you don’t do much data analysis on the device itself. It’s a data collection tool, not a data analysis tool, but for many small herds, that’s exactly what’s needed.

Tru-Test EziWeigh7i: Mid-Range Data Management

The EziWeigh7i represents a significant step up in on-the-spot functionality. While the S3 is about pure collection, the 7i lets you start interacting with your data right at the chute. It can store information for thousands of animals, allowing you to see an animal’s previous weights as soon as its tag is scanned. This is incredibly useful for instantly seeing if a calf is gaining appropriately since the last weigh-in.

This indicator also introduces basic sorting, or "drafting." You can set simple parameters, like a target weight, and the screen will tell you whether to sort an animal left, right, or straight through. It’s a huge time-saver compared to checking a list or trying to remember which animals go where. It’s a solid middle-ground for the herd manager who wants more than just a weight but isn’t ready for a full-blown herd management computer.

If you find yourself wanting to track more than just a current weight—perhaps adding notes about health or sorting weanlings into different pens—the EziWeigh7i is the logical choice. It bridges the gap between simple data capture and advanced herd management, offering powerful features without the complexity or cost of the top-tier models.

Tru-Test ID5000: Advanced Drafting Capabilities

The ID5000 is where the scale indicator starts to become an active part of your cattle handling system. Its large, clear screen and fast processor are designed for one thing: making decisions and moving animals quickly. This is the tool for someone who is serious about sorting cattle based on data, not just by eye.

The standout feature is its advanced drafting capability. You can set up multi-way drafts based on a huge range of criteria. For example, you could program it to:

• Draft heifers over 600 lbs to the "keeper" pen.
• Draft steers under 500 lbs to the "backgrounding" pen.
• Flag any animal that has lost weight for a health check.

When connected to auto-drafting gates, the ID5000 can run this process automatically, saving immense amounts of time and labor. It moves beyond simple weighing and becomes the central brain for managing animal flow. This is for the operator who processes cattle in groups and wants to maximize efficiency and accuracy in every pass.

Tru-Test XR5000: Top-Tier Herd Data Analysis

The XR5000 is less of a scale indicator and more of a handheld herd management computer. It does everything the ID5000 does but adds a deep layer of data analysis and customization. If you live and breathe by your herd’s performance metrics, this is your device.

With the XR5000, you can create custom data fields for anything you want to track—vaccination protocols, genetic traits, pasture rotation, you name it. It calculates and displays performance data like ADG and tracks lifetime information for each animal right on the screen. You can view graphs of weight gain for an individual or a group without ever leaving the chute.

This level of detail is not for everyone. It comes with a steeper learning curve and a higher price tag. But for a farmer focused on genetic improvement, tracking dam performance through her calves, or making highly informed culling decisions, the XR5000 provides unparalleled power. It allows you to ask complex questions about your herd and get answers on the spot.

Tru-Test AP600 System: A Complete Alleyway Solution

The AP600 is a different beast altogether. It’s not just an indicator; it’s an all-in-one weigh scale and EID reader designed for permanent or semi-permanent alleyway installations. Instead of using a handheld stick reader, the AP600 has a built-in panel reader. As the animal walks through the alley, its tag is automatically read and its weight is captured.

This system is built for hands-free efficiency. It’s ideal for situations where you need to process a lot of animals quickly, like when loading out a truck or running yearlings through for a weight check. The operator can focus on moving the cattle forward while the system automatically collects the data. There’s no need to stop each animal to scan it.

The tradeoff, of course, is portability. This isn’t a system you’d easily move to a remote pasture. But for a central working facility, the AP600 offers a level of speed and automation that standalone indicators can’t match. It’s the solution for optimizing workflow and minimizing labor during high-traffic events.

Pairing Load Bars with Your Trutest Indicator

It’s crucial to remember that the scale indicator—the S3, 5000 series, etc.—is just the brain. To actually weigh anything, you need load bars. These are the sensors that sit under your platform or squeeze chute and measure the pressure, converting it into a weight that the indicator displays.

Tru-Test offers several types, but they generally fall into two categories. Multipurpose (MP) load bars are designed to be bolted underneath a portable aluminum or homemade wooden platform. They are great for flexible setups that you might move around the farm. Heavy Duty (HD) load bars are built to withstand the immense forces of a hydraulic squeeze chute and are meant for permanent installations.

Choosing the right load bars is just as important as choosing the right indicator. An expensive XR5000 won’t be accurate if it’s paired with load bars that are installed on uneven ground or aren’t rated for the weight of your squeeze chute. Your weighing system is only as strong as its weakest link, so ensure your foundation is solid.

EID Readers: Completing Your Data Collection Setup

The final piece of the puzzle is the EID reader, which scans the animal’s electronic ear tag and sends its ID number to the scale indicator. Without it, you’re just collecting anonymous weights. You have two main options: a handheld stick reader or a fixed panel reader.

A stick reader, like the Tru-Test XRS2i, offers incredible flexibility. You can use it in the chute to scan tags as animals are weighed, but you can also carry it out to the pasture to identify an animal from a distance or read a tag while it’s in a head-gate. It connects to your scale indicator via Bluetooth, keeping your setup free of clumsy cables.

A panel reader, on the other hand, is mounted on the side of your alley or chute. It creates a field that automatically reads the tag of any animal that passes by, making it a hands-free solution. The choice depends entirely on your workflow. If you value portability and the ability to work outside the chute, a stick reader is best. If your goal is maximum speed and efficiency inside the chute, a panel reader is the superior choice.

Ultimately, choosing the right Tru-Test system isn’t about buying the most features; it’s about matching the technology to your management style. By investing in the right tool for your operation, you move from simply weighing cattle to truly understanding them, empowering you to make smarter, faster, and more profitable decisions for the future of your herd.