Weighing Calves

[Saffy]

I confess I don't weigh my dexter calves but I would like some idea of birth weights.

We weighed our dairy and beef calves accurately years ago but it was difficult and fiddly using a sling and a set of scales similar to those that were used for a baby but bigger. This was accurate but you needed HUGE biceps and two people to do the job, sometimes there would be a beef calf that was too big and it would have to go on the potato scales.

So I have questions - has anyone used a calf weighing band?

Are they anywhere near accurate for Dexter calves? I don't need perfection but they need to be somewhere near.

Where in the UK can they be purchased?

I have a weigh tape for adult animals and it would be nice to see any correlation between birth weight and adult size. There wasn't much of one with my "mainstream" animals. The only time I notes anything was when we had a Freisain/Holstien heifer calf of 28 pounds once...OMG she was tiny, very small boned, not actually officially premature but sized right down and narrow, tiny boned, SO dinky and delicate to rear for the first few weeks, she was below average height at maturity, one of our shortest cows but made - like a brick outhouse!

Stephanie

[Saffy]

I found this but it is in the US wonder if anyone has used it, is it good, will I have to buy it from the US if I want one?


http://rublecattleservices.com/calfscale.html


Stephanie

[Kirk- Cascade Herd US]

I take a very thick piece of plywood board perhaps 2 feet by 2 feet square, out to the pasture, along with a bathroom scale. I lay the plywood on a flat area of the pasture near the newborn calf, and place the scale on the plywood. I weigh myself 2 or 3 times to make certain the scale is stable and I'm getting the same weight each time (if you aren't getting near the same weight each time, it's likely because you aren't on flat ground, or your plywood isn't thick enough). Then I pick up the calf and weigh both of us, twice, to make certain I'm getting near the same weight each time. Then I do the math and subtract my weight, from the weight of both of us. This works perfectly.

I prefer calves in the 35-50 pound range (not too small, not too large). I've found that how the mother is fed makes a big difference in calf weights.

[Saffy]

Not a bad way to do it Kirk...its how I have weighed many animals in the past....but haven't trudged out to the field with the scales as yet but I might!!!!

I used to weigh new born lambs on the bathroom scales but in a washing up bowl to keep them in place...its not big enough for calves BUT a laundry basket might do it.

[davidw]

I also use bathroom scales on a plywood square. I use very smart electronic scales that I picked up at a supermarket for £3.99 (as far as I remember) as the cardboard box was damaged. I believe in only buying the very best for my Dexters!!. They have lasted at least 5 years so far and I haven't even changed the batteries

[Saffy]

I have found a scales - meant for carp fishing, it weighs fish up to 50kg. I have ordered it to try it and will report back with how I get on it is £9.99 including delivery. I have also ordered a £2.99 sling but think it will be useless and will probably use a feed bag.

It is supposed to arrive Friday and I had a calf born Monday that for us is very big!!!! So watch this space!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00 ... UTF8&psc=1

P.S. Am going to have to find a sky hook now!

[Saffy]

Well both arrived on Friday and we weighed the calf no problem! The scales are excellent but the bag is not so, the handles are really long and flimsy, one broke before we had weighed her...in fairness its not meant for a calf. But the bag is huge....goodness what sort of carp are they expecting to weigh??? So I popped her in and tied it to the scales. She was 32 pounds. Could use the bag for a much bigger calf but I don't think it will be very durable, the scales are good though and only £9.99 inc del, I am chuffed!