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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 46(7)

Development of a remote method for the recording of cattle weights under field conditions

E. Charmley A B C , T. L. Gowan A and J. L. Duynisveld A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Crops and Livestock Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Nappan, Nova Scotia, B0L 1C0, Canada.

B Current address: CSIRO Livestock Industries, JM Rendel Laboratory, PO Box 5545, Rockhampton, Qld 4702, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: ed.charmley@csiro.au

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46(7) 831-835 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA05314
Submitted: 8 November 2005  Accepted: 5 April 2006   Published: 8 June 2006

Abstract

Remote weighing of cattle is advantageous because it is less labour-intensive and less invasive for the animal than conventional methods. An automated system was built using ‘off the shelf’ technology which allowed for cattle to be weighed automatically on pasture when accessing the device. Data collected over a 70-day grazing period was compared with data collected at 2-week intervals by transferring cattle to a centralised weighing facility. Liveweights recorded using the remote system were some 20 kg higher than those measured conventionally. However the daily rate of change was similar for conventional and remote weighing methods, being 1.25 v. 1.20 kg/day, respectively (P = 0.48). This study demonstrated that remote weighting of cattle on pasture is feasible and gives satisfactory results compared with conventional methods. This relatively simple method relies on technologies currently available to the cattle industry and could readily be adapted to a range of commercial situations.

Additional keywords: cattle, pasture, radiofrequency identification, weight gain.


Acknowledgments

The authors wish to J. Bacon, R. McIvor, J. Smith, P. Smith, M. Stiles, B. Trueman and M. Wheaton for their technical assistance.


References


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