Every rancher knows the importance of a high-quality livestock scale for maintaining animal health and maximizing profits. However, buying the best livestock scale for your needs requires some research and forethought. On that note, we’ve got you covered with our livestock scale buying guide. Here’s our advice on what to consider when purchasing your next livestock scale.

What Are Your Goals?

The first thing to consider when purchasing your livestock scale is what your goals are:

Preventing Shrink Loss

Minimizing shrink is key to maximizing profit when it comes to your livestock. When transporting your livestock, every pound counts, but during transit, animals can lose a significant amount of weight that can directly impact your bottom line. Always factor in shrink when planning your livestock hauls.

Enhancing Animal Welfare

A livestock scale on site guides animal care and helps to protect their overall health. With easy access to weight monitoring, you can quickly spot unusual changes that may indicate illness, and address them immediately.

Conducting Commercial Transactions

To legally sell livestock, you require a Legal for Trade scale. This means it must be certified and regulated. That said, if you’re simply monitoring your livestock for health, rather than commercial transactions, a Legal for Trade scale may not be required.

Narrowing Down Your Scale Needs

Now that you’ve determined your goals, it’s essential to consider your scale requirements. Let us guide you through the livestock scale buying process with these questions:

Platform Size—What Are You Weighing?

First things first—you’ll need to determine the best size platform for your livestock scale. The animals you’re weighing will not only determine the size, but also the scale features you’ll require. Consider:

• The animal’s weight
• How many you plan to weigh at once
• Whether they’ll need to be retrained

These factors will all play a role in selecting the right livestock scale for your operation.

Portable vs. Permanent—Do You Need a Mobile Scale?

Portable scales are a popular choice among cattle farmers because of their versatility. It’s often quicker and easier to bring the scale to the cattle rather than the other way around. Setup is quick—simply place load cells before a squeeze chute or in any alleyway where cattle naturally pause. Portable scales don’t require bolting and can adapt to various terrains, including gravel.

That said, they do have limitations. If you’re weighing large numbers of animals, the portable scale may not be able to keep up. They’re also typically less durable than permanent scales.

Permanent scales are better suited for larger operations as they can weigh numerous animals simultaneously. These scales are bolted into a concrete floor to ensure stability and reliability, and often include grated platforms to prevent animals from stepping off. You can also install load bars beneath the squeeze chute for a smoother workflow. The trade-off? Permanent scales often require more space and a dedicated area within your facility.

Durability—How Strong Does it Need to Be?

Depending on where and how you use the scale, you may need to invest in a more durable model. This will depend on your local climate, and where the scale will be placed and used. If you’re working with a stationary livestock scale, it’ll need to be secured to avoid damage. If you opt for a mobile scale, ensure it can handle your terrain and workload.

Animal Safety—What Type of Floor Should Your Livestock Scale Have?

The weighing process can be stressful for your animals. To ensure it goes smoothly, provide your livestock with easy scale access. Scales with rubber flooring help reduce noise for both animals and operators, creating a calmer environment. They’re also more hygienic than wood planks and easier to clean. For large cattle, connecting the platform to an alleyway makes loading and unloading safer and more efficient.

Data Collection—Do You Need Data Management?

Most modern scales can be paired with a digital weigh centre or indicator that collects and stores weight data for you. You can quickly download the data into a spreadsheet on your laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

Advanced memory models can keep hundreds of pieces of data on a single animal. Some scales are outfitted with electronic identification (EID) to identify individual animals as they step on the scale.

Even if you don’t think you need these features now, it’s good to consider them, as they may become crucial when your operation grows. Recording important data will help you to streamline operations down the line.

Accurate Western Scale: Your Livestock Scales Guide Starts Here

Accurate Western Scale is your trusted partner in Alberta agriculture. With our extensive experience in the field, we deliver practical advice, quick service, certified technicians, and reliable local support. We understand Alberta’s farming conditions and deliver dependable systems built to endure.

Accredited by Measurement Canada, we certify devices as Legal for Trade, provide mobile cattle scale repair services, and work with you to guide your livestock scale purchase. For expert advice and reliable solutions, contact Accurate Western Scale.

At Accurate Western Scale, we are proud to support the Canadian economy by helping you and your business succeed. We’re committed to delivering top-quality industrial weighing equipment that meets or exceeds industry standards because your satisfaction and safety are our top priorities.

Your Canadian scale specialist

Located in the heart of Calgary, AB, Accurate Western Scale carries a wide range of advanced industrial weighing equipment and related products, including:

• Industrial scales
• Heavy capacity scales
• Livestock scales
• Commercial and retail scales
• Scale accessories

Our dedicated team also provides expert services such as calibration, certification, scale rentals, and repairs. When it comes to your industrial scale needs, our certified technicians are ready to help you find the right equipment and service to keep your operation running accurately and efficiently.

Happy Canada Day from Your Partners in Precision

This Canada Day, all of us at Accurate Western Scale want to thank you for your continued support. We’re proud to be your Canadian distributor for industry-leading scale brands, and an authorized dealer of high-performance weighing equipment in Alberta.

For years, we’ve been committed to delivering reliable service and helping businesses across Calgary and Western Canada meet their measurement needs with confidence.

Wishing you and your family a safe and happy Canada Day!

Accuracy in farming isn’t optional—it’s necessary! From feed management to crop storage, your operation depends on knowing the exact weight of your material. That’s where tank hopper scales come in.

If you run an agricultural business in Alberta, you know how important accuracy is. Loading bins, tanks, and hoppers properly without over- or underfilling them is essential to your inventory management and overall productivity. If you’re looking for accurate measurements and improved productivity, it’s time to install a tank hopper scale.

What Are Tank Hopper Scales?

A tank hopper scale is a weighing system designed to measure the contents of tanks, bins, or hoppers.
These systems are commonly used in:

• Grain storage
• Feed mixing
• Fertilizer blending
• Chemical batching

This scale system typically consists of multiple load cells used to calculate the weight of materials stored or dispensed from a tank or hopper. The information is then sent directly to a digital readout or control system.

Benefits of Using a Tank Hopper Scale

Tank hopper scales are critical for bulk material management in a number of industries, including agriculture, food production, and manufacturing. Without a reliable tank hopper scale, you’re guessing, which leads to:

• Overfeeding or underfeeding livestock
• Inconsistent production batches
• Material waste
• Incorrect billing and reporting

With accurate measurements, you can manage your inventory to prevent loss of money and productivity, while protecting your livestock from illness.

Using a tank hopper scale can:

Improve Efficiency

Tank hopper scales help automate the weighing process so you can forget manually weighing each load and keep your team focused on higher-value tasks. With tank hopper scales, you can:

• Reduce manual handling
• Speed up production
• Get consistent output

Eliminate Waste

Overfilling or underfilling is common without proper weighing. Tank hopper scales track every gram, so you can:

• Avoid product loss
• Control input usage
• Reduce unnecessary costs

Increase Profitability

Errors can cost you money, while precision protects your margins. With accurate weights, you can bill customers correctly and manage inventory better.

• Track materials in real time
• Cut down on costly mistakes
• Maintain trust with buyers and suppliers

What to Look For

Not all systems are created equally. If you’re farming in Alberta, you know what your equipment is up against. Look for a tank hopper scale able to handle:

• Dust
• Moisture
• Extreme temperatures
• Heavy-duty usage

At Accurate Western Scale, located in Calgary, we understand what you need. Our team installs and calibrates tank hopper scale systems designed to withstand Alberta’s harsh conditions. All our equipment is:

• Reliable
• Weather resistant
• Easy to integrate with your existing equipment
• Available with legal-for-trade certification

Precision Starts with Expert Installation and Calibration

Even the best scale delivers inaccurate readings if poorly installed. Accurate Western Scale ensures precision from the start with comprehensive installation services, including:

• Site inspection
• Equipment selection
• Load cell mounting
• System wiring
• Final calibration

Proper installation guarantees consistent performance, extends equipment life, and simplifies future servicing, but without regular calibration, you’re only doing half the job. We recommend having your system calibrated:

• Every 6 to 12 months
• After major repairs
• Following relocation
• When readings are inconsistent

Legal-for-Trade Certification for Compliant Transactions

For selling by weight, a legal-for-trade tank hopper scale certification is often mandatory. Accurate Western Scale is authorized to certify your scale under Measurement Canada regulations, including accuracy verification, system testing, legal documentation, and tamper-proof seals. If you have questions about your compliance, call us. We’re happy to help you determine if certification is required for your operations.

Accurate Western Scale: Your Trusted Partner in Agriculture

With extensive experience in tank hopper scales, Accurate Western Scale is the preferred choice for Alberta’s agricultural sector. We deliver honest advice, fast response times, certified technicians, and local support. We understand Alberta’s farming conditions and provide reliable systems built to endure. Partner with us for a commitment to your success.

Contact Accurate Western Scale to purchase or rent a tank hopper scale for your farm.

For the modern agriculture industry, accurate weighing is critical to efficiency and profitability. Whether you’re farming livestock or crops, or managing a mixed farming operation, the right scales can optimize your resources, minimize waste, and help you make informed, data-driven decisions.

At Accurate Western Scales, we’re proud to support farmers in Alberta, BC, and Saskatchewan with dependable truck, livestock, hopper and tank scales to help you tackle the unique challenges the agricultural industry delivers. Let’s look at how scale technology can help you maximize productivity and profitability on your farm.

The Importance of Accurate Weighing in Agriculture

Not only is accurate measurement a regulatory requirement—it’s vital to efficient farm operations. Scales help to ensure:

• Precise Feed Management: Over or underfeeding your livestock can interfere with animal health, growth rates, and feed costs. Reliable livestock scales help farmers fine-tune feeding programs and optimize feed ratios while assessing animal health.
• Efficient Crop Yield Tracking: Precise hopper and tank scales ensure consistent weight data of crops and other products, allowing for more efficient storage and yield management.
• Accurate Billing and Sales: From seed purchases to commercial grain sales, precise weights help you avoid disputes and maintain transparent transactions.

Agricultural Scales Tailored to Your Farming Needs

Agricultural measurements are as varied as farming operations. At Accurate Western Scales, we carry all the scales you need to maximize your farming production and precision.

Livestock Scales

Livestock scales are used to weigh animals for feed management, medication dosage, and performance tracking. They allow you to quickly identify animals with abnormal weight gains or losses, helping you address any health or nutritional issues immediately.

Truck Scales

Truck scales weigh vehicles transporting feed, animals, or harvested crops. They ensure compliance with road weight limits, while providing accurate measurements of incoming and outgoing loads, maximizing efficiency and data tracking.

Hopper and Tank Scales

Used to monitor the weight of bulk feed, grains, and other stored materials, hopper and tank scales provide accurate inventory management. With precise measurements, you can control and monitor costs, reduce the risk of shortages, and minimize waste due to overstocking.

Platform Scales

These versatile scales allow you to easily weigh a variety of equipment, materials, and smaller loads. Support day-to-day operations with accurate readings on any of your varied on-farm tasks.

Choosing the Right Scale for Your Farm’s Success

Selecting the right scales for your operation is essential to maximizing your productivity and profits. When deciding on a scale, it’s important to consider:

• Weight Capacity: Ensure the scale is equipped to handle your heaviest loads.
• Durability: Farming is hard on equipment. Ensure your scale is built tough to handle the harshest conditions.
• Service and Support: Regular maintenance will extend the life of your equipment. Partnering with Accurate Western Scale ensures you’ll receive regular maintenance, repairs, and calibrations when you need them.

Expert Scale Solutions for Your Western Canadian Farm

At Accurate Western Scale, we understand the unique demands of farms across Alberta, BC, and Saskatchewan. That’s why we deliver expert advice, top-quality equipment, and dependable service from our highly trained technicians.

Whether you’re looking to rent or purchase, we offer flexible options to suit your budget and operational needs. Prevent costly repairs and downtime with our pre-scheduled maintenance program. Our technicians visit your farm regularly for thorough inspections and precise calibrations, ensuring your scales always perform at their best.

For all your truck, livestock, hopper, and tank scales, contact the experts at Accurate Western Scale.

Modern agriculture is a dynamic industry that demands precision and efficiency at every stage. From measuring crops and livestock to monitoring equipment loads, accurate weighing is essential for optimizing productivity and profitability.
Despite often being overlooked, industrial scales play a crucial role in farming operations. They help track inputs, assess outputs, and ensure compliance with industry standards. Choosing the right scale will depend on its purpose:

Legal-for-Trade Scales — Certified, government-approved scales that ensure compliance with industry regulations. These scales are essential for selling crops, feed, or livestock, providing accurate measurements for commercial transactions.

Non-Legal-for-Trade Scales — Built for agricultural environments, these durable and precise scales help optimize feeding, production, and equipment weighing, supporting farm management and operational efficiency.

This blog explores different agricultural scales — including industrial, livestock, and crane scales — and how they contribute to a more streamlined and profitable agricultural operation.

Types of Scales

No matter your needs, there are specialized scales designed for every task on your property:

Truck Scales (Weighbridges)

Truck scales are the most easily recognized weighing system. These heavy-duty scales can weigh entire vehicles loaded with produce, livestock, and agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides. They are available in various sizes and configurations, from small portable units to large permanent installations, and are capable of weighing multiple trucks simultaneously.

Platform Scales

Designed for precision, these versatile scales easily and accurately weigh bulk materials such as grains, fruits, and vegetables. The flat, sturdy platform provides a reliable surface for measuring materials.

Platform Scales are available in stationary or portable models, making them suitable for field and warehouse use. More advanced models are equipped with electronic readouts and data-logging capabilities for accurate record-keeping.

Livestock Scales

From small poultry to large cattle, livestock scales are designed to weigh animals of all sizes. They come in a variety of designs, including:

• Floor-mounted
• Chute-mounted
• Portable

Livestock scales are critical in monitoring animal health, managing feed rations, and optimizing breeding programs. Accurate weight tracking helps ensure proper nutrition, detect health issues early, and improve overall herd management.

These scales are also crucial for livestock marketing, providing precise weight measurements that guarantee fair pricing in sales and auctions.

Crane Scales

Crane scales are essential for lifting and weighing heavy objects like bales of hay, machinery parts, and bags of bulk agricultural products. Typically attached to overhead cranes or hoists, they provide accurate weight measurements while materials are loaded or transported.

Prevent overloading and improper load distribution for a safe and efficient farm.

Counting Scales

Opt for a counting scale for smaller items such as seeds, bulbs, and plant cuttings. These precision tools accurately count and package small items using advanced algorithms to calculate quantities based on weight. Counting scales eliminate the need for manual counting, reducing loss and waste due to human error. These scales are essential for inventory management, quality control, and packaging operations in agricultural settings.

Benefits of Using Industrial Scales in Agriculture

Accurate weighing is essential for maximizing productivity, reducing waste, and ensuring fair trade in agricultural operations. Industrial scales provide precise measurements that help farmers and agribusinesses improve efficiency, maintain compliance, and optimize resource management. Key benefits include:

1. Precision Farming

Precision agriculture relies on accurate data to optimize resource use and crop yields. Using scales provides precise measurements of inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, minimizes waste, reduces costs, and enhances crop performance.

2. Inventory Management

Accurate measurements and precise reporting help ensure a consistent supply of agricultural inputs and products, so you always have what you need when you need it.

Track inventory levels accurately, from stored grain and feedstocks to harvested crops.
Maintain optimal inventory levels to avoid shortages, and minimize losses due to spoilage.

3. Quality Control

Industrial scales help assess the quality of products by measuring attributes such as weight, size, and density. Scales help you ensure only the highest quality products reach the customer.

Enhance your reputation and competitiveness in the market by incorporating industrial scales in your operations.

4. Industry Compliance

Agriculture is a highly regulated industry, and compliance with legal and safety standards is non-negotiable. Industrial scales play a critical role in compliance, providing precise measurements required for regulatory reporting, certification, and food safety standards.

By verifying the weight of shipments for taxation, trade, and safety requirements, industrial scales help prevent penalties, ensure fair transactions, and maintain industry credibility. Incorporating reliable weighing systems into your operation demonstrates accountability, transparency, and a commitment to regulatory compliance.

5. Cost Savings

Industrial scales ensure efficient resource management, helping you maintain profitability in agriculture where margins can be tight. They contribute to cost savings by:

• Optimizing input usage
• Minimizing waste
• Improving operational efficiency

Scales allow farmers to make informed decisions about inventory, output, and yield that
translate into real savings.

6. Data-Driven Decision Making

Data and analytics drive the agricultural industry, and informed decision-making is essential to your agribusiness. Scales generate valuable data that can be used to gain insight into your operation and its efficiency.

Monitor trends in:

• Input usage
• Crop yields
• Product quality

This data can then be used to identify opportunities for improvement, optimize production practices, and keep you ahead of market trends.

Accurate Western Scale: Your Source for Industrial Scales

Maximize accuracy, efficiency, and compliance on your farm with Accurate Western’s high-performance industrial scales. Whether you need legal-for-trade scales for commercial transactions or non-legal-for-trade scales for internal farm operations, we’ve got you covered.

Contact Accurate Western Scale for expert assistance in all your industrial scale needs.

In industries where precise weight measurements directly impact transactions—such as retail, agriculture, logistics, and manufacturing—Legal for Trade Scale Certification is a regulatory requirement. These scales must meet strict accuracy standards to ensure fairness in commercial transactions. However, obtaining certification is only the first step. Businesses must also comply with periodic renewal requirements to maintain certification and avoid legal or financial repercussions.

At Accurate Western Scale, we provide expert certification services to ensure your scales remain compliant, helping you avoid penalties and maintain consumer trust. In this blog, we’ll cover why Legal for Trade Scale Certification is essential, how often it needs to be renewed, and what businesses can expect from the certification process.

What Is Legal for Trade Scale Certification?

Legal for Trade scales are weighing devices that meet the accuracy and reliability standards set by Measurement Canada. These scales are certified to ensure that consumers and businesses engage in fair trade, with confidence that they are receiving precisely what they pay for.

Why Certification Matters

• Legal Compliance – Using uncertified or expired scales in commercial transactions can result in penalties and fines.
• Consumer Trust – Accurate measurements ensure fairness and transparency, strengthening customer confidence in your business.
• Operational Efficiency – Certified scales reduce discrepancies and disputes, preventing potential financial losses.

How Often Do Legal for Trade Scales Need to Be Recertified?

Depending on the trade sector, periodic renewals are required to maintain compliance and accuracy. However, livestock scales are an exception—once certified, they remain valid indefinitely, with no requirement for recertification. For other types of scales, the frequency of certification renewal depends on several factors, including the type of scale, industry regulations, and applicable federal requirements.

Additionally, how often a scale is used, and the environmental conditions in which it operates can impact its accuracy, requiring more frequent inspections.

Measurement Canada mandates periodic inspections to ensure scales remain compliant, and failure to renew certification can lead to penalties, fines, or even legal action. Staying proactive with scheduled certifications helps businesses avoid these risks while ensuring fair and transparent transactions.

The Certification Renewal Process

1. Inspection and Testing – A certified technician evaluates the scale for accuracy and compliance.
2. Adjustments and Calibration – If necessary, the scale is calibrated to ensure proper function.
3. Approval and Sealing – Once it passes inspection, the scale is recertified and sealed.
4. Documentation – A record of certification is provided, ensuring compliance with Measurement Canada standards.

Legal vs. Non-Legal for Trade Scales

Not all scales require Legal for Trade Certification. While certified scales are necessary for commercial transactions, Non-Legal for Trade scales are often used for internal purposes, such as inventory management or quality control. Choosing the right scale depends on your business needs.

At Accurate Western Scale, our team of experts can help you with a new certification and/or renewals. To avoid compliance issues, businesses should proactively schedule periodic scale certifications. Reach out to us to learn more about our services.