Livestock Scale for Goats, Sheep and Pigs: How to Weigh Small Livestock and Show Animals

By MNM Scales · Last updated October 31, 2026

Weighing small livestock tells you how fast animals gain, how much to feed, when a show animal is on target, and gives your veterinarian a real weight for treatment. University extension guidance from the University of Arizona (PDF) notes that approved, properly calibrated livestock scales are the most accurate and consistent way to find body weight.

Which scale fits which animal

Animal	Setup	Notes
Goats and kids	Walk-on platform with panels or a small crate	Kids can be weighed in a tared bucket or tub
Sheep and lambs	Walk-on platform with panels	Weigh before shearing or note the date of shearing
Show pigs and feeder hogs	Platform with a crate or sorting panels	Pigs move less inside a snug crate
Young calves	Long platform with side panels	Check the weight against capacity (660 lb (300 kg) on the OP-922)
Cattle	MNM Scales livestock scale kit under a squeeze chute	Load bars sized for the herd
Goats, sheep, pigs and calves on the OP-922	20 x 43 in platform, 660 lb x 0.2 lb, rubber mat, HOLD key	End-of-year sale: $268

How to weigh a goat or sheep

1. Set the platform on firm, level ground or a concrete pad; soft dirt lets a corner sink and skews the reading.
2. Fit panels or a crate on the deck, then press tare so the crate reads zero.
3. Walk the animal on quietly. A helper at the head and a little feed keep it calm.
4. Wait for the stable sign or press HOLD to lock the weight, then write it down with the date and the animal’s ID.
5. Let it off and confirm the display returns to zero before the next one.

How to weigh a pig

1. Use a crate or two sorting boards on the platform so the pig cannot turn around.
2. Tare the crate with the platform empty.
3. Drive the pig in calmly with a board; rushing raises its movement and the reading swings.
4. Press HOLD to lock the weight, record it, and release the pig.
5. Weigh show pigs on the same day of the week, at the same time, before feeding.

The same platform also weighs feed sacks and small square hay bales (see our 500 lb scale guide) and, in season, feral hogs and harvested deer (see our deer scale guide).

Scale vs weigh tape

When a scale is not on hand, a weigh tape or a body-measurement formula gives an estimate. Washington State University Extension’s heart girth guide gives this formula for sheep and goats: heart girth x heart girth x body length / 300 = weight in pounds, with measurements in inches. A sheep with a 35 inch heart girth and a 30 inch body length works out to about 122 lb.

The University of Arizona guide adds that tapes are useful for tracking when the same person measures the same way, but estimates are less reliable for pregnant animals or unusual body shapes. For feed rations, treatments and show targets, a calibrated scale gives the number you can act on.

Show animals: tracking rate of gain

For 4-H and FFA projects, weigh every week or two at the same time of day and work out average daily gain: subtract the last weight from the current one and divide by the days between. A lamb that went from 80 lb to 94 lb in 14 days gained 1 lb a day. Comparing that number with your target date tells you whether to adjust the feed plan; your ag teacher, extension agent or veterinarian can help set the target. The show’s own scale sets the official weight at weigh-in.

Outdoor use and care of the platform

• Scrape off manure and bedding after each session, lift the mat and rinse it.
• Wipe the stainless cover instead of hosing it, keep water away from the indicator and the cable connector, and dry the scale before storage.
• Route the cable where animals cannot step on or chew it, and keep the indicator in the shade and out of rain.
• Store the platform dry and flat; touch up any chips in the powder coat so the mild steel frame stays protected.
• Running on batteries away from an outlet? The OP-922 also takes a DC 6 V adapter. For indicator settings, see the LP7515 guide.

Notes from our Cypress, TX shop

• Barn floors move: a platform set on dirt or straw tips as animals step on. Set it on concrete or a leveled plank base and recheck zero after every few animals.
• Weigh the crate once, label it: write each crate’s tare weight on it, so anyone weighing can check that the tare in the indicator matches.
• Bring it in before show season: our TDA-registered technicians calibrate platforms at our Cypress shop by appointment, or on-site with their own test weights when you have several scales.

Selling animals by weight: NTEP and Texas rules

Weighing your own animals to manage feed and health is a health and growth use; selling livestock by the pound is a sale by weight. The OP-922 is built for weighing animals for health, dosing and growth tracking. It is not NTEP approved, so it is not a legal-for-trade scale. When you sell animals by weight in Texas, use an NTEP approved scale, and contact us for NTEP options. Our guide to NTEP and legal-for-trade scales explains the classes, and the legal-for-trade scale checker helps you match a scale to a use. Scales used in trade also follow NIST Handbook 44.

Texas note: TDA does not require an NTEP certificate for every device, but the scale must meet NIST Handbook 44 and suit its use; some scales do need one, so we recommend NTEP models and can check yours. See TDA’s scales used in trade guidance (PDF) and our TDA scale certification guide, or call us or TDA to confirm your use.

Our TDA-registered technicians service farms, ranches, fish farms and show barns across the rural Houston area, including Waller, Hockley and Magnolia. Recently they installed a floor scale and a livestock scale kit for a major logistics center near IAH in Houston.

Calibration, repair and rentals

• Calibrated before it ships: in-house calibration with a certificate or NIST calibration with a NIST-traceable certificate for the OP-922’s capacity; contact us for a quote. See NIST vs in-house certificates and how to calibrate a floor scale.
• On-site service: on-site calibration is $295 plus $2 per mile per visit, plus the calibration fee for each scale. For floor and platform scales, our TDA-registered technicians bring their own test weights.
• Mail-in calibration: ship the scale to our shop with the mail-in calibration service.
• Cypress pickup by appointment: drop off or pick up at our Cypress, TX shop (21249 FM 529 Rd, Cypress, TX 77433).
• Repair: load cell, cable and indicator problems go to our scale repair bench. A reading that drifts or will not return to zero? Start with why a scale will not zero.
• Rentals: we rent all types of scales; ask about a scale rental for a clinic event, a sale day or while yours is in for service.

Frequently asked questions

What size scale do I need for goats?

A walk-on platform about 20 x 43 inches fits one adult goat with panels or a crate. Make sure the capacity is above your heaviest goat plus the crate.

How do you weigh a goat without a scale?

Use a weigh tape or the extension formula: heart girth x heart girth x body length / 300 = weight in pounds, with measurements in inches. Treat the result as an estimate and confirm on a scale when weight matters.

How do you weigh a pig?

Put a crate or sorting boards on the platform, tare them, drive the pig in calmly, and press HOLD to lock a steady reading.

Can I use a vet scale for sheep and goats?

Yes, for health, feed and growth records. A low vet platform with a rubber mat suits sheep, goats and show pigs; add panels or a crate (not included) to keep the animal on the deck. To sell animals by weight, use an NTEP scale.

Do I need an NTEP scale to sell livestock by weight in Texas?

TDA does not require an NTEP certificate for every device, but the scale must meet NIST Handbook 44 and suit its use, and some scales do need one. We recommend NTEP models for selling by weight and can check yours.

How often should a livestock scale be calibrated?

We suggest at least once a year and after the scale is moved, dropped or repaired. Our technicians calibrate on-site with their own test weights.