Reliable cattle weighing underpins herd health, feed efficiency, and fair trade. When scales slip out of tolerance or become unstable, dosing decisions, market weights, and performance benchmarking suffer. The good news is that most issues are preventable with a simple, consistent care routine that respects both the mechanics and the electronics of the equipment.
This guide outlines practical steps for day‑to‑day cleaning, scheduled accuracy checks, and protection of load cells, indicators, and power systems. Whether you run a fixed crush-mounted system or a mobile platform, these habits will keep readings trustworthy and extend service life. Where specialist tools or certification are required, partnering with a service provider such as Sasco Africa ensures compliance and confidence.
Daily and weekly cleaning and mechanical care
After every weighing session, remove manure, mud, bedding, and feed fines from the platform, ramps, and gates. Organic acids in manure accelerate corrosion, while caked mud creates uneven footing and inconsistent loading. Use a low‑pressure rinse and soft brushes, keeping spray away from load cells, junction boxes, and indicator connection points. Disinfect regularly for biosecurity, and ensure drain holes and gaps around the deck are open so water cannot pool. Dry surfaces reduce slip risks and help electronics avoid condensation.
Inspect the platform or crate for bent sections, cracked welds, loose fasteners, and worn anti‑slip coverings. Tighten anchor bolts and verify that foot pads or mounting plates sit flat and stable. Lubricate hinges and latches lightly, wiping away excess oil so dust does not stick. Replace slick or torn rubber mats, and touch up scratched painted or galvanised areas to slow rust. Check that side rails and anti‑backing gates operate smoothly to keep animals calm and centered on the deck.
If you use a mobile or portable unit, re‑level the scale each time you relocate it. Set up on firm, compacted ground and use shims as needed so all feet share the load equally. Confirm approach ramps align flush with the deck to prevent animal hesitation or side loading. For fixed installations, examine the concrete footing for cracks or subsidence and clean the clearance gap around the deck so it does not bind. In both cases, protect the scale from direct sun and heavy spray where possible, since heat and water accelerate wear.
Accuracy, zeroing, and calibration routines
Begin each day with a warm‑up and zero routine. Power the indicator for 10–15 minutes to stabilise electronics, ensure the deck is completely empty, and press zero. Verify that no part of the crush, rails, or cables touches the platform, as contact points cause drift and instability. If your indicator has motion filtering, set it appropriately for cattle movement, balancing responsiveness with stability. Re‑zero any time you move the scale or notice erratic readings.
Perform weekly accuracy checks using traceable test weights where possible. If certified weights are not available, create a consistent reference such as sealed water drums or bagged feed with documented masses. Test multiple points: place the load in the centre and near each corner to assess linearity and corner loading. Record the indicated values in a logbook, compare them to references, and note environmental conditions. A typical pass band for livestock scales is within about ±0.2% to ±0.5%, but always follow the manufacturer’s specification.
Schedule full calibrations at intervals matched to usage: monthly for intensive commercial operations, quarterly or biannually for moderate use, and immediately after any impact, relocation, or repair. Proper calibration involves multi‑point adjustment with certified weights and may require corner compensation. Maintain a calibration certificate and trend your daily and weekly checks; gradual drift signals components aging or moisture ingress. When in doubt, arrange a professional verification. Sasco Africa offers on‑site calibration, training, and documentation that keep you audit‑ready.
Protecting load cells, electronics, and power
Load cells are robust but are vulnerable to moisture, cable damage, and lightning. Inspect cables for abrasion, crushed sections, or rodent bites, and route them through protective conduit with drip loops to keep water away from entry points. Check that cable glands and grommets at the load cells and junction box are tight and intact, and replace cracked seals. Open the junction box periodically in a dry environment to look for condensation or corrosion on terminals, and refresh desiccant packs if fitted.
Position the indicator in shade and out of direct rain using a weather cover or enclosure rated for farm conditions. Keep it away from electric fence energisers and welding operations that can inject electrical noise. Ensure the system is properly earthed and protected by surge suppression; in storm‑prone regions, integrate lightning protection on both power and signal lines. Inspect connectors for looseness or corrosion, clean with appropriate electronics cleaner, and secure strain relief so tugging does not fatigue the plugs.
Manage power proactively. For mains‑powered systems, use a quality surge protector or UPS to smooth brownouts. For battery or solar units, keep terminals clean and tight, follow recommended charge cycles, and replace batteries when runtime shortens or voltage sags under load. Clean solar panels to maintain output and protect charge controllers from moisture. Back up indicator settings after calibration so you can restore them if power loss or firmware updates occur. A small investment in power integrity prevents many intermittent faults that masquerade as weighing problems.
Conclusion
Consistent attention to cleanliness, stability, and environmental protection keeps cattle scales performing accurately day after day. By combining a simple zero routine, documented accuracy checks, and timely professional calibration, you safeguard data quality, animal welfare, and the economic decisions that depend on precise weights.
If you are upgrading, replacing, or standardising across sites, browse Sasco Africa’s comprehensive range of weighing systems solutions and scales. Explore platforms, load bars, indicators, mobile units, and accessories designed for African conditions, and speak to our team for calibration services, site assessments, and lifecycle support that keeps your operation weighing right.
We specialise in commercial and industrial weighing solutions across a wide range of industries. If you would like to use our services, contact us today for a free quote or to get your questions answered by our weighing experts.
