Monitoring cattle liveweight using a mobile, in-paddock weigh platform: Validation, attendance and utility

Abstract

Cattle liveweight (LW) monitoring is essential for the effective management of animal productivity and welfare, particularly in decision-making on farms. Traditional static weigh (SW) systems require animals to be moved to fixed scales, posing challenges in extensive beef systems due to labour demands, costs, stress, and weight loss during muster. This study evaluated the relationship between LW measured by a SW system and a mobile in-field weighing system, Optiweigh (OW), in 65 weaners (Angus, Shorthorn, and Angus-Shorthorn cross) grazing on forage oats at a commercial beef property in north-west NSW, Australia. Over 22 weeks, cattle were weighed fortnightly using SW scales in the cattle yards while OW continuously monitored LW in the paddock. Lin's concordance correlation coefficient showed a strong association between OW and SW liveweight (CCC = 0.97; P 382 kg), prompting the development of a correction. Further research is needed to understand the reasons for these discrepancies, potentially related to diet. Additionally, cattle attendance at OW was affected by size, season, and individual variation (P < 0.001). Overall, the OW system simply and accurately monitored the temporal changes in cattle LW through voluntary animal attendance in remote systems.

Keywords

• Precision agriculture
• Cattle
• Liveweight
• Mobile weigh platform
• Growth monitoring