Cattle Scales Buyers Guide: AgriEID vs TruTest vs Gallagher

If you run cattle in Australia you already know that weighing is not just a nice to have. It is how you put numbers on growth, dose accurately without wasting money, manage sale weights, and make better calls on feed and breeding. This buyers guide gives you a clear and practical comparison of three well known options in Australia today. AgriEID, TruTest and Gallagher. The goal is simple. Help you choose a scale and indicator setup that fits your budget and your yard work, and delivers the data you need with the least fuss.

Below you will find a quick summary table, then a deep dive on hardware, software, connectivity, yard fit, durability, support and total cost. There is also a straight talking section on which setup suits small, mid and larger operations, plus a checklist, ROI examples and a no jargon FAQ. You can jump to the part you need using the links in the contents.

Contents

  1. Why weighing matters on Australian farms
  2. Quick compare: AgriEID vs TruTest vs Gallagher
  3. AgriEID in detail
  4. TruTest in detail
  5. Gallagher in detail
  6. How to choose for your operation
  7. Buyer scenarios and recommended kits
  8. Simple ROI and payback examples
  9. Pre purchase checklist
  10. FAQ
  11. Next steps

Why weighing matters on Australian farms

Regular weights let you watch individual animals instead of guessing off the mob. With actual numbers you can see average daily gain across seasons and paddocks, pick up passengers early, tighten up drench and vaccine dosing, and sell at the right time. Many producers use walk through or yard based workflows to cut labour and stress while getting more data. If you are serious about herd performance, you need a system that makes good weights easy, then gets them into software you will actually use.

Australia runs a national livestock traceability system that uses electronic ID. So the best setup links your scales with an NLIS reader and software that handles animal records, movements and compliance while giving you weight trends and alerts. For a simple approach see AgriEID cattle scales and AgriEID NLIS readers. For background on NLIS see Integrity Systems and MLA resources on weighing.

Quick compare: AgriEID vs TruTest vs Gallagher

Category AgriEID TruTest Gallagher
Typical price to get started Entry kits from well under $1,000. Heavy duty load bars and kits around $995 to $2,500. See cattlescales.com.au and AgriEID AU. Indicators like ID5000 usually in the high $2,000s to low $3,000s. Load bars and platforms extra. TW and TWR indicators from entry level through to premium. RRP for TWR-5 sits in the mid $5,000s. Load bars extra.
Software ecosystem Mobile app plus cloud software built for NLIS and performance tracking. Free first year included with many kits. Tight Bluetooth workflows for fast yard use. Datamars Livestock cloud with device sync for supported indicators. Good device updates and sessions management. Animal Performance software and app with cloud sync across devices. Deep feature set for traits and drafting.
NLIS and compliance Direct focus on NLIS workflows, readers, and transfers. Education hub and how to guides. Strong EID compatibility and readers across the range. Integrated reader available in TWR models and good NLIS workflows in the software.
Connectivity in the yards Bluetooth link from load bars and readers to the mobile app. Auto sync to cloud when online. Bluetooth and wired options depending on model. Works with stick and panel readers. Bluetooth, Wi Fi and optional wireless load bars. TWR units have built in reader antenna support.
Durability and support Heavy duty bars and IP rated indicators for yard work. Australian based support and guides. Long track record in rugged conditions. Authorised service agents across Australia. Rugged housings and glass on premium indicators. Broad dealer network and support.
Total cost of ownership Lowest up front cost for most small to mid herds. Strong value when paired with free first year software. Higher ticket once you add bars, platforms and readers. Suits enterprises that want that brand and dealer setup. Premium hardware and software with premium pricing. Great for operations that want all in one top end indicator with integrated reader.
Best fit Small to mid producers who want accurate weights, quick yard workflows, easy NLIS and cloud analytics without a big bill. Producers already in the Datamars ecosystem or who want the long standing TruTest indicator feel. Producers who want a touch indicator with integrated reader and do not mind paying more for the flagship unit and app stack.

AgriEID in detail

What you get

AgriEID focuses on simple, accurate yard workflows. You can start with an affordable DIY kit or step up to heavy duty bars under the crush with a stainless monitor, robust cabling and a big clear readout. The mobile app grabs the weight the moment the animal settles and can also pull the NLIS number from a stick reader. Data syncs to the cloud so you can sit down later and look at gains, treatments and draft rules without exporting and importing files.

The big win for busy producers is that you can set this up quickly in a standard crush, scan tags, weigh and move on. The app shows the current session and recent history so you can spot a passenger or a spike in real time. You do not need to fight with CSVs or clunky desktop screens. If you want to add traits or notes you can do that on the phone with a few taps.

Hardware range and pricing

There are portable kits for stock agents and yards without a permanent crush, plus EnduraFlex and other heavy duty bars designed to live under the crush. Australian pricing is very sharp. Entry kits often land under one thousand dollars and heavy duty bars and kits sit in the one to two and a half thousand dollar band. See current offers on the dedicated cattle scales site at cattlescales.com.au and the AgriEID Australia page here.

Software and app

AgriEID includes a mobile app and cloud software that handle NLIS records and performance analytics. Many kits include the first year of software at no extra cost, which keeps total cost low in year one and lets you bed in a repeatable workflow before you renew. The app connects by Bluetooth to scales and readers, captures animal weights and IDs in seconds, and syncs to the cloud when you have coverage. You can browse AgriEID NLIS guides and a stack of practical articles on cattle scales inside the AgriEID blog.

Where AgriEID shines

  • Value for money. Lowest entry cost for a complete scales plus software workflow. Good when cash flow matters.
  • Fast yard use. Bluetooth links and a simple app flow mean less tapping and more weighing.
  • NLIS focus. Readers and guides built around Australian compliance and real world transfers.
  • Straight install. DIY kits and under crush bars that fit common Australian crush designs.

Any trade offs

  • Top end integrated indicator features like a built in reader antenna on the face of the indicator are not the focus. If you want the absolute most feature rich premium indicator face, see Gallagher’s TWR line below.
  • If you already run Datamars Livestock or Gallagher Animal Performance across other sites and staff, you may prefer to stay with that stack to keep one system across your business.

TruTest in detail

Brand and ownership

TruTest is a long standing name in livestock indicators, EID and load bars, and now sits within the Datamars Livestock family. If you have used Superdamp indicators over the years you know the feel of the weight lock and the session flow. Datamars Livestock cloud software backs the newer indicators so you can push and pull sessions.

Hardware and price

Common indicators like the ID5000 sit in the higher two thousands to around three thousand dollars in Australia for the indicator alone. Load bars, platforms, stick or panel readers and mounting are extra. TruTest bars and platforms have a reputation for longevity and there are authorised service agents across the country.

Software

Datamars Livestock is a cloud program that syncs with supported indicators. It handles sessions, animal records and device updates. If you already run other Datamars gear or you have staff trained on this interface, staying in this ecosystem can make sense.

Where TruTest shines

  • Rugged hardware. Many producers like the feel and speed of the Superdamp weight lock.
  • Dealer and service network. Plenty of Australian dealers and repair partners.
  • Cloud sync for supported models. Sessions and device updates through Datamars Livestock.

Any trade offs

  • Higher price once you add bars and readers. Total build can exceed what small and mid herds want to spend.
  • Some producers prefer a simpler mobile first flow over a device centric menu on the indicator face.

Gallagher in detail

Brand at a glance

Gallagher offers a full line of weigh scales, readers, wireless load bars and the Animal Performance software and app. The TW series covers touch indicators and the TWR series adds an integrated EID reader so the indicator face can read tags with the panel antenna and log weights in one unit. Many Australian yards run Gallagher gear and there is an extensive dealer network.

Hardware and price

Gallagher’s TW and TWR indicators span entry through premium. The TW-1 is a touch indicator that works with readers and wireless bars, while the TWR-5 adds an integrated reader and deeper data capture. Expect mid five thousand dollars for the flagship TWR-5 indicator alone at RRP in Australia. You still need bars and mounting, plus an antenna panel and cable if you want to read without a wand.

Software

Animal Performance is Gallagher’s data platform. You can capture weights and traits in the yards and sync to cloud so you have the same animal records on mobile and desktop. If you want an all Gallagher stack with hardware and software from one brand, this is designed for that.

Where Gallagher shines

  • Integrated indicator. TWR models collapse reader and indicator into one unit for neat yard setups.
  • Wireless bars. Bluetooth links reduce cabling risk in the crush.
  • Dealer support. Strong retail and service presence across Australia.

Any trade offs

  • Premium price. You pay for the flagship indicator and the full ecosystem.
  • If your main goal is fast, low cost capture with a phone and cloud, you may not need the premium indicator features.

How to choose for your operation

Start with the job in front of you. If you are a family run place turning off 40 to 200 head a year, the fastest path to value is usually a set of reliable bars, a simple indicator or monitor, and a mobile app that does weights and NLIS with no file wrangling. If you run a larger multi site outfit, you may place more weight on an integrated indicator with draft control and advanced traits because staff rotate and you want the same interface in each yard.

Decision points that matter more than marketing buzz

  • Install type. Do you need under crush bars that will live there, or a portable kit for seasonal weighing or shared yards
  • Connectivity. Will you capture to a phone over Bluetooth, or to an indicator then sync later Do you have Wi Fi or coverage in the yards
  • Software fit. Will you and your staff actually use the app or the website If not, choose the simplest path that collects the key data with the least taps.
  • NLIS workflow. Can your setup read the tag and attach the weight to the right animal without manual typing
  • Budget and payback. A simple kit that gets used every month will beat a premium rig that sits in a case.

Buyer scenarios and recommended kits

Small herd or part time producer, 30 to 100 head

Goal. Accurate weights to manage sale timing and treatments. Quick setup, low upfront cost, no laptop required.

Recommended. AgriEID portable kit or EnduraFlex DIY kit plus a simple stick reader. Use the mobile app to capture ID and weight in one flow. Sync to the cloud later.

Why. You get the same key outcomes as a premium stack. You record ID and weight, see gains, and keep NLIS transfers clean. You are not paying for indicator features you will never touch.

Growing family business, 100 to 300 head

Goal. Faster yard sessions, individual performance, better dose accuracy and a tighter handle on sale windows.

Recommended. AgriEID heavy duty under crush bars with a robust monitor and the mobile app. Add a stick reader for tag scans. If you like a larger indicator face, pair the bars with a mid range indicator from your preferred brand and keep using the AgriEID app for the data capture and cloud sync.

Why. This gives you a tough physical install with fast Bluetooth capture and NLIS integration. You can still use an indicator face if you want, but your data path stays simple and cloud first.

Larger outfit, 300 plus head, multi site, shared staff

Goal. Consistent user interface on the indicator, quick drafting, integration across sites, full trait capture.

Recommended. Consider Gallagher TWR with integrated reader and Animal Performance, or keep a TruTest plus Datamars Livestock setup if you already run that in other yards. You can still use AgriEID bars under the crush if you prefer their durability and value, then connect the indicator and reader of your choice.

Why. Staff will have a familiar indicator screen, you can draft and capture traits deeper, and it lines up with your existing training and support model.

Simple ROI and payback examples

Weights pay for themselves when they help you make better calls. Consider a 150 head herd where regular weighing lets you cut a drench overrun by ten percent and pick up three underperformers a month earlier. The drench saving alone can cover a sizeable part of a starter kit each season. Add one extra kilo per head at sale because of better timing and you cover the rest. For larger herds, savings on labour and yard time from cleaner workflows and less re weighing add up just as fast.

Producers using data driven dosing also avoid the risk of under dosing that drives resistance. For seasonal targets, regular weights let you lock in sale groups at the right grid and ship at peak prices rather than missing a window because you guessed wrong. In a variable season, the ability to see average daily gain drift by paddock can be the difference between a tidy margin and dead money.

Pre purchase checklist

  • Crush fit. Measure bar length, height and mounting points. Check cable protection and where the monitor will live.
  • Power. Decide between mains, battery, or dual. Look at charging habits and spares.
  • Weather. Read the IP rating on monitors and connectors. Think about dust and water around your yards.
  • Readers. Decide on stick versus panel. For stick, check reach and battery life. For panel, check antenna location and cabling.
  • Connectivity. If you want to sync in the yards, check Wi Fi or mobile coverage. If not, make sure offline capture is clean and the sync is one tap back at the house.
  • Software. Log into the platform you plan to use and run a dummy session. Check NLIS transfers, reports and how you export if you need to share data.
  • Support. Note the warranty period and where to get repairs. Save the help links before you start.

FAQ

Do I need electronic ID to weigh cattle
Weighing works without EID, but EID makes it practical to link each weight to the right animal with one scan. Australia uses NLIS for lifetime traceability, so a reader plus scales is the cleanest way to do both performance and compliance.

How accurate are modern bars and indicators
All three brands here deliver stable weights fast when installed right. The bigger differences are price, workflow and software. Good install beats brand myths. Make sure your crush is level, cables are protected and the animal stands cleanly on the platform.

What about walk over weighing
Walk over weighing systems can be great for large, extensive operations because they capture daily weights at watering points. For many small and mid producers, a good yard system gives most of the value at far lower cost.

What is the real cost difference
As a rule of thumb, AgriEID gets you into a working, cloud connected scales and NLIS workflow for under two and a half thousand dollars in many cases. TruTest and Gallagher builds with a comparable indicator plus bars and reader will usually run higher. If you want an integrated indicator with built in reader, expect premium pricing.

Which system is easiest to learn
If you use a phone for most jobs, AgriEID’s mobile first flow is very quick to pick up. If your staff are used to indicator screens, the TW or TWR face or a TruTest indicator may feel familiar. The right answer is the one your team will use every month.

Next steps

Verdict

If you want fast, reliable weights, clean NLIS workflows, and the lowest total cost to get going, AgriEID is the clear winner for most Australian producers in the small to mid range. It delivers the features that move profit the most. Accurate weights, simple tag scans, and cloud analytics you will actually use. TruTest remains a solid choice for those committed to the Datamars ecosystem and who value the classic indicator feel. Gallagher’s premium TWR line shines if you want an integrated reader in the indicator and deep trait capture with a strong dealer network and you are happy to pay for it.

Useful AgriEID links

Notes on brands and standards: TruTest is part of the Datamars Livestock family. Gallagher Animal Performance is the current software stack for Gallagher indicators. Australia uses NLIS for lifetime traceability across cattle, sheep and goats. For official guidance see Integrity Systems and MLA.

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