Weight Estimation by Girth Circumference

Where smaller numbers of cattle are involved, there are rarely the finances to justify a set of scales to weigh your animals. But having said this, it is important for many breeders to know what animals weigh when it comes to doses of medications, drenches, but it is also valuable information for those interested in growth rates. Many will use 200-, 400- and 600-day weight to allow comparison of animals from year to year in the same fold, but also between folds. Growth rates are also very important to know that you are finishing your steers adequately.

Birth weights are best measured on a set of analog bathroom scales by holding the calf in your arms and deducting your own weight. Thereafter the girth circumference is quite an accurate way of determining an animal’s actual weight. With the right amount of pull on the tape you will get easily within 5% of the real weight. Commercially available weight tapes have the weights printed on them and are a convenient way to make these measurements. Eventually, however, the numbers wear off these weight tapes. An alternative is a 3 meter, metal builders tape and converting the measurement in centimetres with the table below.

Where to Measure:

The narrowest part of the chest is the spot, being sure that the animal has its head up. With their head down their chest expands causing an over estimation of their weight. Immediately behind the front legs, over the heart is the spot. Tighten the tape too much (less common mistake) and you under estimate the weight. Pull to lightly (often done) and you over estimate the weight. Practice makes perfect.

Table of Girth Circumference (cm) to Estimate Weight (kg)

(cm)	(kg)	(cm)	(kg)	(cm)	(kg)	(cm)	(kg)	(cm)	(kg)
68	30	115	136	162	351	209	732	256	1202
69	31	116	140	163	358	210	742	257	1211
70	32	117	143	164	366	211	752	258	1221
71	34	118	147	165	373	212	762	259	1231
72	35	119	150	166	381	213	772	260	1240
73	36	120	153	167	388	214	782	261	1250
74	37	121	157	168	396	215	792	262	1260
75	38	122	161	169	403	216	803	263	1270
76	40	123	164	170	410	217	814	264	1279
77	42	124	168	171	418	218	825	265	1289
78	43	125	172	172	426	219	836	266	1299
79	45	126	176	173	433	220	847	267	1308
80	46	127	180	174	441	221	858	268	1318
81	48	128	184	175	448	222	869	269	1328
82	50	129	188	176	456	223	880	270	1338
83	52	130	192	177	463	224	891	271	1347
84	54	131	196	178	471	225	900	272	1357
85	56	132	201	179	478	226	910	273	1367
86	58	133	205	180	485	227	920	274	1376
87	60	134	210	181	492	228	930	275	1386
88	62	135	214	182	500	229	939	276	1396
89	65	136	219	183	508	230	949	277	1405
90	67	137	223	184	516	231	959
91	69	138	228	185	524	232	968
92	72	139	232	186	532	233	978
93	74	140	236	187	540	234	988
94	77	141	241	188	548	235	998
95	79	142	246	189	556	236	1007
96	82	143	250	190	564	237	1017
97	84	144	255	191	572	238	1027
98	87	145	260	192	580	239	1036
99	90	146	265	193	588	240	1046
100	93	147	270	194	596	241	1056
101	96	148	275	195	604	242	1066
102	98	149	280	196	613	243	1075
103	101	150	285	197	622	244	1085
104	103	151	290	198	631	245	1095
105	106	152	295	199	640	246	1104
106	109	153	300	200	649	247	1114
107	112	154	305	201	658	248	1124
108	115	155	310	202	667	249	1134
109	118	156	316	203	676	250	1143
110	121	157	321	204	685	251	1153
111	124	158	327	205	694	252	1163
112	127	159	332	206	703	253	1172
113	130	160	338	207	712	254	1182
114	133	161	344	208	722	255	1192

Print this table off & keep it handy.

Weight Estimation by Girth Circumference

Where to Measure:

Table of Girth Circumference (cm) to Estimate Weight (kg)

Bairnsley Highlands

Quick Links