Buying your first Gallagher weighing and EID system can feel overwhelming. There are a lot of products, a lot of options, and a lot of money at stake, particularly if you're building a system on the back of a FETF grant. This guide walks you through the decision in the right order, from crush to cloud.
Start with the Physical Reality: Your Crush
Before you look at products, assess your handling setup. The rest of the system decisions follow from this.
- Is your crush fixed or mobile? Fixed crushes can use either wired or wireless bars. Mobile setups should use wireless bars.
- What make and model is your crush? This tells us which load bar length fits. Common UK crushes (Ritchie, IAE, Shelbourne Reynolds) take 600mm bars in most configurations.
- What's the typical weight of your heaviest animals? Determines whether you need standard 2,500kg or heavy duty 5,000kg bars.
- What's the floor surface under the crush? Concrete is ideal. If it's compacted earth, consider laying a small concrete pad.
Choose Your Load Bars
With the physical assessment done, choose your load bars. For most UK cattle operations, the answer is two 2,500kg wireless load bars at 600mm length. If you're not sure of the length, call us with your crush details before ordering.
Choose Your Weigh Head
Work through the three questions from Guide 1: touchscreen vs basic display, how much data you need to record, and integrated EID vs stick reader. For most farmers building their first complete system, the TW-1 is the right starting point. If you know you need detailed trait recording or life data management, go to the TW-3. If you're a large commercial operation that needs to process animals quickly with no scanning bottleneck, consider the TWR-5.
Add an EID Reader
Unless you're going straight to the TWR-5 with its integrated panel reader, add an HR4 or HR5 handheld EID stick reader to your system. The HR5 is the more advanced model with a wider reading range and a more ergonomic handle for extended use. Either will read all standard UK cattle EID tags accurately.
With mandatory EID tagging arriving in January 2027, this component is not optional for new systems. Build it in now.
Check FETF Before You Buy
Before you finalise your order, check your eligibility for FETF 2026 funding. The scheme provides 50% back on the cost of eligible items, including the weigh head (FETF78) and load bars (FETF79). The deadline is 28 April 2026. If you're reading this before then, you need a quote from us today.
Set Up the Animal Performance App
Once your system is physically installed and the weigh head is paired with the load bars, set up the Animal Performance App on your phone or tablet (see Guide 4 for a step-by-step walkthrough). Register your herd, import any existing records, and run your first weighing session.
Calibrate and Test
With the system installed and the app connected, do a quick calibration check: zero the head with the crush empty, then weigh a known animal or object. Gallagher wireless bars auto-calibrate with Gallagher heads, so this should be a confirmation exercise rather than a technical challenge.
Contact Dalton Supplies for a Complete System Quote
If you'd rather not work through this yourself, just call us. Tell us your herd size, crush type, and whether you have a FETF application in mind. We'll put together a complete system specification and quote — usually within 24 hours — with all FETF item codes included.
In need of more information? Read our complete guide to gallagher weighing & EID systems for UK cattle farmers.
