Throf smart farm system: app, RFID ear tags and smart scale
The Throf smart farm system: RFID ear tags, a Bluetooth reader that fills the tag number and a smart livestock scale that saves each weight to the file.
The Throf smart farm system has three parts: the Throf app, which keeps a file for every animal; RFID ear tags, read by a Bluetooth reader that fills the animal's number in the app; and a smart scale that reads the tag and sends the weight straight into the animal's weight history, with no typing.
Most time lost on a farm is not spent on the work itself but on reading, writing and copying numbers: a faded paint mark, a plastic tag read wrong, a weight written on the wrong line. A smart farm does not mean complicated gadgets. It means the number is read once, correctly, and every piece of information lands in the right animal's file. Here is what each piece does, how they connect and when you need them.
The three pieces and how they fit
| Piece | What it does | What reaches Throf |
|---|---|---|
| Throf app | A file per head: number, colour, breed, age, stage, health, weight, cost | The hub where all data comes together |
| RFID ear tags | A chip with a unique number in the ear, plus a visual number and colour | The electronic number that becomes the file's key |
| Bluetooth RFID reader | Reads the tag and sends the number to the phone | The tag number is filled when adding or looking up an animal |
| Smart scale | Reads the animal's tag while weighing | The weight is saved in the animal's weight history automatically |
The flow is simple: the tag identifies the animal, the reader passes the number to Throf, the scale passes the weight with the number, and the app links everything to the file.
1. The Throf app: the hub
Everything starts with the animal's file in Throf: number and tag colour (the pair is its identity), breed, sex, birth date, mother, father, group and photo. Vaccinations, treatments, births, weights and costs are added to it. Throf runs on iPhone, Android and in the browser at app.throf.com, and you can start with the app alone and add hardware when you need it.
2. RFID ear tags: a number that never gets lost
Paint marks and ordinary plastic tags work, but they fade and get misread. An RFID tag carries a chip with a unique electronic number, alongside a visual number and colour for quick recognition by eye. When ordering, decide head count and species, chip type (ISO 11784/11785 at 134.2 kHz, FDX-B or HDX), tag colour and visual numbering, and heat and UV resistance for the Gulf climate. Details: RFID electronic ear tags, and read RFID ear tag standards and buying tips.
Note: Throf tags are for daily farm management and do not replace official identification such as the Saudi camel microchip or the Naama livestock tagging service. You can store the official number in the animal's file.
3. The Bluetooth RFID reader: numbers without typing
The reader connects to your phone over Bluetooth (BLE), on Android and iOS; iPhone needs a BLE-capable reader. When you add a new animal or look one up, you bring the reader close to the tag, the chip number is filled in Throf and the file opens. From there you record the vaccination, treatment or note against the right animal. Details: Bluetooth RFID reader.
4. The smart scale: weights that file themselves
A standard livestock scale shows a number on its display, and that is where mistakes begin: who reads the weight, who writes the animal's number, did anyone copy the notebook to the computer? A smart scale 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. From the history you see growth rate, who has reached target weight and who is lagging. Details: smart livestock scale; to choose the right type, read the livestock scale buying guide.
Everyday use cases
- Registering the herd: fit the tags, pass the reader over each animal so the number fills the file, then complete breed, sex and age. A large herd already in Excel is imported in one batch.
- Herd count: walk the reader along the flock; each animal opens its file, so you see who is there and who is missing.
- Vaccination day: each tag is read, the right file opens, the vaccination is recorded and the next reminder is set.
- Weigh day in fattening: animals pass over the scale one by one and each weight goes to its owner's history. Two weeks later you compare and calculate gain; see feed conversion ratio in fattening.
- Before selling: in Saudi Arabia slaughter livestock in pens and public markets has been sold by weight since 1 Muharram 1447 AH, so knowing each animal's weight on the farm helps you pick who is ready.
- Buying new animals: tag them on arrival and set them to isolation in Throf during quarantine before they join the flock.
Who needs the full system?
| Farm size and activity | What we suggest |
|---|---|
| Small herd up to 25 head | Start with the app on the free plan, using numbers and colours |
| Mid-size breeding farm | App plus RFID tags and a Bluetooth reader for faster records and counts |
| Fattening unit or regular sales by weight | The full system: app, tags, reader and smart scale |
| Camel herd | The app, with the official chip number stored in each camel's file |
How to get started
- Register your herd in Throf first, using current numbers and colours or an Excel import.
- Decide where you lose most time: reading numbers? Order tags and a reader. Weighing? Add the smart scale.
- Request a quote on WhatsApp with your species, head count and how you weigh today. Hardware prices depend on quantity and specification, so we do not list them here.
- Activate your plan: free up to 25 head, or subscribe online for larger herds, prices including VAT, with coupon THROF15 for 15% off. Browse all hardware on the products page.
FAQ
What is a smart farm in sheep farming?
A farm where animal numbers and weights are read electronically and saved directly in each animal's file. With Throf this is done with RFID ear tags, a Bluetooth reader and a smart scale connected to the app.
Can the Throf app read RFID tags without a reader?
No. You need a Bluetooth (BLE) RFID reader connected to your phone; on iPhone the reader must support BLE.
How does the weight get from the scale to the app?
The smart scale reads the animal's tag and sends the weight to Throf, where it is saved in that animal's weight history automatically.
Do I need all the hardware to start?
No. You can start with the app alone using numbers and colours, then add tags, a reader or a scale as the herd grows or when you start selling by weight.
How much do the RFID tags and smart scale cost?
It depends on quantity, type and specification. Request a quote on WhatsApp with your head count and species.
General guidance only — it does not replace your veterinarian or the competent authority in your country.
