Livestock Scale Buying Guide: Choosing a Sheep or Camel Scale
How to choose an electronic livestock scale: weigh crate, platform or load bars, capacity and accuracy, RFID reading, data export and what drives the price.
To choose an electronic livestock scale, start with the species and how many animals you weigh. For sheep and goats a weigh crate or small platform usually fits; camels need a large platform or load bars with high capacity. Then compare capacity, accuracy and display, and check whether the scale reads RFID ear tags and exports weights to your app automatically instead of by hand.
With sale by weight in Saudi markets since 1447 AH, and buyers everywhere asking more and more about weight, "how much does it weigh?" is often the first question at sale. Breeders who weigh on the farm know the answer before they reach the market. This guide helps you pick the right scale without paying for features you do not need.
Types of livestock scales
| Type | Description | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weigh crate | Metal crate with entry and exit gates on load cells | Sheep, goats, growing lambs | Holds the animal still for faster, more accurate readings; ideal for frequent weigh days |
| Platform scale | Flat platform the animal stands on | Sheep and goats; larger sizes for camels | Needs side rails or a race so the animal does not step off |
| Load bars + indicator | Two bars with load cells placed under a platform or crate you provide | Camels, farms with existing races | Flexible and portable; needs a level floor and a sound install |
| Hanging scale | Hung scale with a sling for small animals | Newborns | For birth weights only, not for grown animals |
Sheep scale: crate or platform?
If you weigh dozens of head at a time, a crate saves time and labour because it confines the animal and limits movement. A platform is usually cheaper and easier to clean, but needs someone to steady the animal or a race to guide it.
Camel scale
Camels need much higher capacity and a long, strong platform. Adult camel weight varies widely with breed, sex and condition, and large bulls can exceed about 600 kg. A large platform or load bars under a fixed deck in a dedicated race, with solid side rails, is the usual set-up.
Specifications to compare
- Maximum capacity. Choose clearly more than your heaviest animal, so the scale is not always working at its limit.
- Accuracy (graduation). Newborns and lambs need finer steps than camels; ask for the smallest increment shown.
- Stability with moving animals. Some indicators average the reading while the animal moves (an animal-weighing mode), which saves a lot of time.
- Display. Readable in sunlight, large digits, protected from dust and water.
- Power. A rechargeable battery that lasts a full working day if there is no power near the pen.
- Materials. Galvanised or corrosion-resistant metal that survives urine, washing and heat.
- RFID reading. Does the scale read the animal's electronic tag itself or through a connected reader?
- Data export. Bluetooth, USB or a direct link to an app, instead of copying weights from the screen to a notebook.
RFID reading and data export: the real difference
Most time on weigh day is not lost on weighing itself but on reading the animal's number, writing the weight beside it, and later copying the notebook into a computer. That is also where errors creep in: a misread number, or a weight on the wrong line.
A smart scale fixes this. It reads the RFID tag in the animal's ear and sends the weight straight to Throf, where it is saved in that animal's weight history automatically, with no typing. From that history you get average daily gain, see which animals are ready to sell, and link weight to cost per head. If your tags are not electronic yet, read about RFID ear tag standards and buying first; a smart scale works best with an electronically tagged herd.
What drives the price of a livestock scale?
You will not find prices here, because they vary a lot with specification, quantity and installation. These are the factors that push the price up or down:
- Capacity and platform size. A camel scale naturally costs more than a sheep scale.
- Number and quality of load cells. They are the heart of the scale and determine accuracy and lifespan.
- Metal and coating. Galvanised or corrosion-resistant steel costs more but lasts longer in a pen.
- Crate and gates. A crate with front and rear gates costs more than an open platform.
- Indicator features. Memory, stable readings, RFID reading, Bluetooth.
- Installation, calibration and warranty. A calibration certificate, warranty and after-sales service are part of the value.
- Approval. Scales used in markets and commercial pens may need to be approved and calibrated under local rules; a farm scale for monitoring has different needs, so tell the supplier how you will use it.
Preparing the weighing area
- A firm, level floor under the scale; a slope ruins readings.
- A narrow race leading animals onto the scale one by one.
- Shade over the weighing area, and avoid the hottest hours; see heat stress in livestock.
- Weigh at the same time of day each time, since feed and water change weight.
- Clean the scale after use and check it now and then with a known weight.
To know which weights to expect, read sheep weight by breed and age.
Request a quote
Throf provides RFID ear tags, Bluetooth readers and smart scales that send weights to the app automatically. Tell us your species, herd size and how you weigh today: request a quote for tags or a scale on WhatsApp. Register your herd in the app on the free plan, or subscribe and pay online for larger herds (coupon THROF15 for 15% off).
FAQ
What is the best scale for sheep?
For regular weighing of large numbers, a weigh crate is usually best because it holds the animal still and speeds up weighing. A platform is a simpler option for small flocks.
What capacity do I need for a camel scale?
Choose clearly more than your heaviest camel. Camel weights vary widely and large bulls can exceed about 600 kg, so ask the supplier for a suitable safety margin.
Can a livestock scale connect to an app?
Yes. A smart scale that reads the RFID ear tag sends the weight to Throf and saves it in the animal's weight history automatically.
How much does an electronic livestock scale cost?
It depends on capacity, platform size, load cells, materials, indicator features, installation and warranty. Request a quote stating your species and herd size.
General guidance only — it does not replace your veterinarian or the competent authority in your country.
