Accurate weight is one of the most valuable pieces of information a farmer or rancher can have. It tells you how your animals are growing, whether your feeding program is on track, and when it’s time to sell or move livestock. Monitoring weight regularly is necessary for effective livestock management.
Relying on guesswork can cost you income, waste feed or allow health issues to go unnoticed. That’s why livestock scales and other weighing equipment with reliable load cells have become such an important tool in agriculture. These systems provide precise monitoring that helps you make informed decisions about your herd.
In this article we’ll look at how livestock weight scales work, the role agriculture load cells play in accuracy, how to choose the right weighing systems for your animals, and what to expect in terms of lifespan in farm environments.
We’ll also highlight Massload’s livestock load bars as a flexible solution to build weighing equipment and monitoring systems that fit your operation and support better livestock management.
What is a Livestock Weight Scale?
A livestock weight scale is a complete system to give you weight data even when your animals won’t stand still. Whether you’re raising cattle, hogs, sheep or horses, knowing their exact weight is the foundation for smart feeding, herd health and fair sales.
These scales are designed with the barn and pasture in mind. Animals move, they shift, sometimes they dance around on the platform and a good livestock scale is built to handle all that without giving you false readings.
The Secret Behind Accurate Weight Monitoring: Agriculture Load Cells
Inside the platform are small but precise devices called load cells. They are the muscles of the scale. When your steer steps on the platform the load cells flex ever so slightly under the weight.
From there the electronics convert that signal into a weight you can read. The more advanced the load cell and the scale the better they are at filtering out movement so even if your calf decides to shuffle its feet you still get an accurate number.
How Many Load Cells Do I Need for an Animal Scale?
Most single-animal livestock platforms use 4 load cells. Here’s how to choose the right count (and size) for your setup without overbuying:
- Small alley/platform for sheep, goats, hogs: usually 4 shear-beam load cells (low-profile feet) under the corners. Some very small alleys can run on 2 but 4 gives better stability when the animal shifts.
- Beef cattle squeeze chute or large cattle platform: 4 load cells under the frame is standard.
- Portable “weigh bars” under an existing chute or crate: 2 weigh bars (one front, one rear). Each bar has 2 internal load cells so it’s effectively 4 cells.
- Multi-animal pen/platform or extra-long decks: 4 to 6+ cells depending on size and structure but for farm use 4 is still the norm unless the deck is very long or flexible.
Why Having 4 Agriculture Load Cells is the Best for Livestock Management
- Stability & accuracy: Four corners = better readings when animals move or stand off-center.
- Motion handling: The indicator can average/filter each corner so “dancing feet” don’t wreck the weight.
- Practical build: Easy to level, easy to service and works with standard junction boxes and indicators.
How Do You Choose a Load Cell Best Suited for Your Animal Scale Application?
This is one of those things that seems technical at first but really boils down to a handful of practical choices. Let’s break it down in plain farmer-and-rancher terms so you can see exactly how to pick the right load cell for your animal scale.
1. Start with the heaviest animal + platform
- Add the max weight of the biggest animal you’ll ever weigh (bull, ram, sow, etc.).
- Add the weight of the crate/platform/chute itself.
- Multiply by a safety factor (1.25–1.5) to handle movement, bouncing or a second animal stepping on by mistake.
- Divide by the number of load cells (usually 4).
- That gives you the minimum per-cell capacity.
- Always round up to the next standard cell capacity (e.g., 1,000 lb, 2,500 lb, 5,000 lb).
2. Match the type of load cell to your setup
Shear beam load cells
The go-to for most livestock platforms and chutes. Rugged, low-profile, handles side movement well.
Compression load cells
Better for really large multi-animal platforms or truck/pen weighing. They sit under heavy-duty mounts and handle massive weights.
Weigh bars
Perfect if you want portability. Slip two bars under your existing chute or crate. Each bar has two load cells inside, so you get 4 in total
3. Consider the motion filtering & indicator pairing
- Even the best load cells need electronics that can “smooth out” the weight when animals move.
- Choose a load cell that works with an indicator that has motion compensation.
- For busy farmers: look for indicators with hold functions so the scale locks in a stable number you can record before the sheep moves away.
What is the Lifespan of a Load cell in Farming Environments?
In theory, a good load cell has no expiration date. They’re built to last for millions of load cycles (every time an animal steps on, it’s one cycle). In a lab, that can mean 10–20+ years of accuracy.
In reality, mud, washdowns, manure and critters shorten that lifespan. In most farm setups, you can expect a good load cell to last 5–10 years with proper installation and care.
What Shortens an Agriculture Load Cell’s Life on the Farm?
- Moisture & corrosion – water getting in, especially if the cell isn’t stainless steel or IP67/IP68 sealed.
- Animal movement (shock loads) – stomping, jumping or a heavy animal hitting the platform.
- Cable damage – rodents chewing, tractors running over exposed wires or wear at bends.
- Poor installation – uneven foundations or misaligned mounts causing side loads.
- Constant overload – running a 2,000 lb bull on a scale built for 1,200 lb animals every day.
What Extends Their Life?
- Choosing the right capacity: Oversizing load cells slightly (without going extreme) prevents overload fatigue.
- Quality materials: Stainless steel + hermetically sealed = best for barns, feedlots and outdoors.
- Good mounting: Rocker feet or proper mounts that keep the force straight through the cell.
- Cable protection: Conduit, armored cables or running wires under the deck.
- Regular checks: Zero and span calibrations catch drift before it becomes failure.
Massload’s Livestock Scale Load Bars
Massload’s livestock load bars are for farmers and ranchers who want to build their own weighing system without a preassembled kit. They’re perfect for platforms, chutes or alleyways wherever you need weight data to manage animals with confidence.
Flexible Capacities
Our load bars are available in 2,500 lb, 5,000 lb, 10,000 lb and other capacities, to handle everything from sheep and hogs to full grown cattle or groups of animals.
Two Ways to Build Your System
- Core components: Start with just the load cells, transmitter and indicator for a simple, customizable setup.
- Complete solution: Choose Massload’s ready-to-go load bars designed for easy installation and durability in farm conditions.
Customized to Your Operation
Every farm is different. If you share a few details such as the maximum animal weight, your deck or chute dimensions and the type of output or connectivity you need, our team can recommend the exact livestock scale system with the perfect set of agriculture load cells for your operation.
Monitor The Weight of Your Livestock with Massload’s Custom Solutions
Get in touch with us today and tell us about your application. We’ll help you find the right weighing solution for your herd and your operation.
