Grassman
Member
- Location
- Derbyshire
Easy check. Weigh yourself on your scales before setting off. Then get on the market scales. Anything obviously wrong then report it.
If they are Welsh perhaps the rugby wouldn't be the best thing for me to talk to them about just at the momentYes it has always helped if you watch your lambs being graded. We used to watch every lot go through but time constraints and new hygiene rules etc mean it's too much hassle to go in every time now. It certainly helps if the grader knows who you are. Also very important never to complain to the grader, best to keep them talking about something totally unrelated like rugby or trotting.
Get lost!If they are Welsh perhaps the rugby wouldn't be the best thing for me to talk to them about just at the moment
we are had every which wayWelcome to the farmers world! our local knocks 1kg off, when I first went back live, I mentioned the sudden loss of weight, and was told that it allowed for all the muck on the scales? which self zero every time! Also I had too recalibrate my new electronic scale, so followed procedure and used 10 new 25kg bags of soya, next lot of lambs seemed to weigh light to my mind, and for once they were actually heavier at market? re calibrated scales using weights, then reweighed remaining soya, every bag 2kg light.
Some days I think rubbish to this why bother, apparently no one wants the product, and no one wants me to make a living. but for some bazaar reason I keep doing it, just to annoy the wife really.we are had every which way
Well it gives them something to moan about, just think of all the effort in thinking of something newSome days I think rubbish to this why bother, apparently no one wants the product, and no one wants me to make a living. but for some bazaar reason I keep doing it, just to annoy the wife really.
if they were all honest it wouldn't be a problem, weights should be correct end ofI'd like to say my local market always weighs the same as what they are weighed at home but the buyers complain they don't kill out so well from that market I wonder why?
Unfortunately there are far too many Farmers annoying their wivesSome days I think rubbish to this why bother, apparently no one wants the product, and no one wants me to make a living. but for some bazaar reason I keep doing it, just to annoy the wife really.
That's how I see it. Some locals have messaged me to say it happens to them as well in this location so at least its not just me! Makes me feel a lot better about itif they were all honest it wouldn't be a problem, weights should be correct end of
I took 18 lambs this week, all strong abermax x mule lambs all weighed over 50kgs, most mid 50s if they were 49.5 they were sent dead to dunbia, only properly above 50kgs went live
They were dry in a shed, they ended up weighing 48kgs at the market.... not sure how that happened
As someone who was asked in my early career in the Weighing business approx 25 years ago 'Can you make the scales weigh light?' The answer is 'yes of course i can, but I'm buggered if i am going to'
These markets have to have their scales calibrated and certified by Trading Standards/ weights and measures, usually annually, and calibration certificates are issued to the markets.
Obvious things to look out for on the scales.
1) Large amounts of muck around the load cells and underneath the platform.( muck underneath the scales will effectively make them weigh light)
2) Always make sure scales are at zero, before any weighing begins.
3) Simple check if possible weigh yourself before hand at home use your own bodyweight to check the scales weigh within 1kg( this is acceptable plus/minus 1kg) Walk round all 4 corners of the scale to make sure the weight is the same. If not complain.
4) Ask to see the latest calibration certificate make sure it is up to date.
5) If not report to Trading Standards.
6) This is probably why I dont get asked anymore to check market scales
If everyone is so sure they are being ripped off why don't they do something about it? Take it up with weights and measures. Ask market to do check with some 25kg bags.
Farmers are always bloody moaning, but never do anything about what there moaning about. I think most of them enjoy being miserable.
After but they only trim waste off. You know the price before they leave the yard and if you've sent a lot of lambs previously you have a good idea on weight too. All lambs sold live end up in an abattoir anyway. Do you think the buyers do this at a loss?