Four Reasons Every Farm Needs a Truck Scale

Profile Picture of Post's Author Trent Dado | Posted July 29, 2024
  1. Measuring Yields from the Cropping Enterprise

Most dairy businesses are comprised of both dairy and cropping enterprises. Often, the dairy enterprise has ample data to determine the outcome of their management. This often appears in the form of milk weights and components. With this data, dairy managers and advisors can adjust nutrition and management to improve output from the dairy. In the cropping enterprise however, particularly when producing forages, yields are difficult to determine. Knowing accurate yields allows more precise management of the cropping enterprise. This relates to the adage, “You can’t manage what you can’t measure.”

An important factor when measuring forage yields is that dry matters must be taken frequently (minimum 2-3 times per field) for accurate determination of dry matter yield.

  1. Purchasing Feed

No need to emphasize the importance of managing feed costs in a dairy business. All dairies purchase feed. For those who purchase both locally grown or contracted forage, a scale is paramount for fair and accurate purchase of these products. However, even for dairies who purchase only commodity products, having a scale allows for proper reconciliation of deliveries and a “double-check” of the broker or seller’s weigh ticket. Having a truck scale will provide confidence in the feed which you thought you purchased actually enters your inventory.

  1. Calibrating Mixer Scales

This may seem like a minor reason, but the dollar implications are quite significant. We trust our TMR Mixers to do a lot. Not only do we require them to adequately mix ingredients together into an unsortable, consistent ration, but they are also responsible for recording the feed usage (so long as the dairy utilizes feeding software). Uncalibrated scales on the mixer can lead to poorly mixed rations and inaccurate inventory. This leads to lower cow performance and poor utilization and management of inventory (discussed more next). Make sure to calibrate your TMR Mixer with the truck scale at least once per month.

  1. Managing Inventory

Looking at a balance sheet for a dairy, feed inventories will comprise a large portion. Forages are the predominant inventoried feed. Both nutritionists and the dairy rely on accurate inventories to properly utilize ingredients in the ration. If you use them too quickly, you risk running out before the next forage crop is ready or having to scramble to bring in commodity or by-product feeds. Often the cows will negatively notice dramatic ration changes. If you do not (or cannot) feed inventoried feeds quickly enough, although not detrimental, is not the optimal use of feed and cash. Having a truck scale will increase the accuracy of feed inventories and optimal use of the inventory. Remember inventories are subject to shrink and forage inventories are reliant on accurate dry matters.

Of course, the ROI of truck scale increases as the farm increases in size. However, even if a truck scale does not fit into your operation, the importance of the above points holds true. Work with your GPS Dairy consultant on best ways to manage your truck scale or how to best manage feed costs and inventories without one.

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