Introduction: Why Weighing Is the Most Underestimated Tool on Your Farm
If you're still eyeballing your cattle before sale day, estimating doses by guesswork, or relying on a knackered old set of flat-bed scales in the corner of the yard — this guide is for you.
Gallagher's Weighing & EID (Electronic Identification) systems are used by tens of thousands of cattle farmers across the UK and Europe. They are the market leader in livestock weighing technology for one simple reason: no other manufacturer combines the precision of load-bar weighing with the intelligence of cloud-connected data management, all in a system that a single farmer can operate with one hand.
From January 2027, electronic identification (EID) ear tags will be mandatory for all new-born calves in England. That means every UK cattle farm will need EID-compatible equipment within the next twelve months. The smart move? Get a system that does both — weighs your animals accurately and reads EID tags automatically — and get 50% of the cost funded through the FETF 2026 grant scheme before the 28 April deadline.
At Dalton Supplies, we stock the complete Gallagher weighing and EID range. We've installed these systems across the north of England for years, and our team knows every product in the range inside out. This guide covers everything you need to know to make the right choice for your operation.
The Gallagher Range at a Glance
The Gallagher Weighing & EID range is built around three components that work together as a complete system:
- Weigh Head (Scale Indicator): The brains of the operation. Reads the weight from the load bars, stores animal records, syncs with the Animal Performance app, and reads EID ear tags. Available in five models from the basic W0 to the top-of-the-range TWR-5.
- Load Bars: The muscle. These precision sensors sit under your crush or platform and measure weight to within 0.1kg accuracy. Available in wired and wireless versions, in standard and heavy-duty capacities.
- Animal Performance App: The cloud. A free-to-download mobile and web app that stores every animal's complete weighing history, shows growth graphs, exports data, and integrates with cattle movement records.
You can buy these components individually to add to existing equipment, or as a complete system bundle. Either way, all Gallagher components are designed to work together seamlessly — no calibration headaches, no compatibility issues.
Wireless Load Bars: The Game-Changer That No Competitor Can Match
Here's the single most important thing you need to know about Gallagher load bars: they are the only wireless load bars on the market. No other manufacturer — not Tru-Test, not AgriEID, not any own-brand — makes a wireless load bar for cattle weighing. This is not a minor feature. It changes how you farm.
Traditional wired load bars require a cable to run from each bar, up through or around the crush structure, to the weigh head. On a fixed crush in a purpose-built handling area, that's manageable. But on a mobile setup, or on a crush that moves between fields, or where the cable has to cross a gutter — wired bars are a constant source of hassle. Cables get damaged, get stood on, get in the way.
Gallagher's wireless bars use Bluetooth to send weight readings directly to the weigh head. Each bar has a sealed, non-rechargeable lithium battery module — the distinctive orange block you'll see on the side of the bar. That battery is rated for ten years at three hours of weighing per week. It doesn't need charging. It doesn't need replacing for a decade.
KEY FACT: The wireless load bars are permanently installed under your crush. Leave them there permanently. They only activate when you log into the weigh head so the battery isn't draining when you're not weighing. After ten years of average use, you replace the battery module.
The bars are fully sealed and waterproof with no moving parts. Internal load cells are completely protected from mud, water, and the general abuse of a working farmyard. Fitting them is straightforward: each bar has mounting holes to bolt through the crush footings or fix to the ground, and slotted top holes to secure to the crush frame.
Choosing the Right Load Bars for Your Crush
The most common question we get is: which load bars do I need? The answer depends on three things: your crush type, your average animal weight, and whether you want wired or wireless.
Load Bar Capacity
Gallagher wireless load bars come in two capacities:
- 2,500kg (standard): Suitable for the vast majority of UK cattle operations. Handles up to 2,500kg total platform load — comfortably covering the heaviest bull or cow you're likely to weigh. Two bars under a standard crush gives you a 2,500kg limit per bar.
- 5,000kg heavy duty: For large-breed commercial operations, large platforms, or where multiple animals could be on the platform simultaneously. Also the right choice if you're weighing very large continental bulls.
Load Bar Length
Load bars are available in two lengths: 600mm and 1,000mm.
- 600mm bars: Standard length for most cattle crushes. Fits Ritchie, IAE, Shelbourne Reynolds and most other UK crush brands. If your crush footings are roughly 500-600mm apart, this is what you need.
- 1,000mm bars: For wider platforms, purpose-built weighing crates, or large commercial handling yards where the footings are further apart. Also used under wide sheep crates.
IMPORTANT: Before ordering, measure the distance between your crush uprights where the bar will sit. Bars must fit securely between the uprights. If you're unsure, call us — give us your crush make and model and we'll confirm which bar length you need. Getting this wrong is an expensive mistake.
Wired vs Wireless: When to Choose Each
|
Factor |
Wireless Bars |
Wired Bars |
|
Installation |
Bolt in place, pair with head — done |
Requires cable routing through/around crush structure |
|
Ongoing use |
No cables to manage, damage, or replace |
Cable vulnerability — especially on mobile setups |
|
Battery |
10-year sealed lithium, no charging |
No battery required — powered by weigh head |
|
Price |
Higher initial cost |
Lower initial cost |
|
FETF Eligible |
Yes — FETF79 |
Yes — FETF79 |
|
Best for |
Any fixed crush, mobile setups, clean modern yards |
Budget builds, existing wired infrastructure |
The Weigh Head Range: Which One Is Right for You?
Gallagher makes five weigh heads in the WEID range. They fall into two families: the W series (basic scale indicators) and the TW/TWR series (touchscreen data collectors). The key question is: how much do you want your weigh head to do?
W0 — The Entry-Level Scale
The W0 is a basic weight display unit. It shows you the weight of the animal, logs it, and syncs via Bluetooth to the Animal Performance app. No touchscreen, no EID reader, no data entry on the unit itself. It's the right choice if you want accurate digital weights with app sync at the lowest possible price, and you're comfortable recording everything on your phone.
W1 — Step Up to WiFi and EID Compatibility
The W1 adds WiFi connectivity and the ability to connect an EID stick reader for scanning ear tags. Data syncs to the Animal Performance app automatically. Still no touchscreen, but a significant step up in connectivity and EID capability.
TW-1 — The Best Seller: Touchscreen, Wireless, Ready for Everything
The TW-1 is the most popular weigh head in the range for a very good reason. It combines a large 7-inch scratch-proof glass touchscreen — readable in direct sunlight — with WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, compatibility with wireless load bars, and integration with an EID stick reader. It is simple enough for any farm worker to use and powerful enough to manage a large commercial herd.
If you're buying your first Gallagher system and you want to future-proof it, the TW-1 is where to start.
TW-3 — Advanced Data Collection for Performance Breeders
The TW-3 builds on the TW-1 with enhanced data collection: life data recording (recording the full history of each animal from birth to sale), trait recording, and more advanced management tools. It is the right choice for pedigree breeders and commercial farms running a formal performance recording programme.
TWR-5 — The Pinnacle: Integrated EID, QWERTY Keyboard, Nine Simultaneous Traits
The TWR-5 is Gallagher's top-of-the-range weigh head and one of the most advanced livestock data collection tools available anywhere. Key features include: a large 7-inch touchscreen, a full QWERTY keyboard for fast data entry, a fully integrated EID panel reader (no separate stick reader needed), simultaneous recording of up to nine animal traits, and full Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. If you're running a large commercial beef unit or a pedigree herd with serious performance recording requirements, the TWR-5 is the system.
Weigh Head Comparison
|
Feature |
W0 |
W1 |
TW-1 |
TW-3 |
TWR-5 |
|
Touchscreen |
No |
No |
7 inch |
7 inch |
7 inch |
|
QWERTY keyboard |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Wireless load bars |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
WiFi connectivity |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Bluetooth |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
EID compatibility |
No |
With stick |
With stick |
With stick |
Integrated |
|
Traits recordable |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Multiple |
9 simultaneous |
|
App sync |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
FETF grant code |
FETF78 |
FETF78 |
FETF78 |
FETF78 |
FETF78 |
|
Best for |
Budget build |
EID addition |
Most farms |
Perf. breeders |
Large commercial |
The Gallagher Animal Performance App
Every Gallagher weigh head in the TW/TWR range syncs automatically with the Gallagher Animal Performance App. The app is free to download and the core features are free to use. It is available on iOS, Android, and as a web browser dashboard.
What the app does:
- Stores the complete weighing history of every animal in your herd
- Shows individual and group growth graphs — see exactly which animals are gaining well and which are falling behind
- Records and displays full animal life data: birth weight, treatment history, movements, performance traits
- Exports data in standard formats for integration with other farm management software
- Creates and manages draft lists — automatically sort animals by weight category at the crush
- Supports cattle movement compliance records
The app syncs data over WiFi or Bluetooth every time you complete a weighing session. Your records are stored in the cloud — accessible from any device at any time. If you weigh at 6am in the yard and want to check the results from the kitchen table an hour later, they're there.
IMPORTANT: With mandatory cattle EID from January 2027, the Animal Performance App becomes your digital compliance tool as well as your performance management platform. Setting it up now means you'll have a year of historical data ready before the mandate kicks in.
Building a Complete System: Three Farm Scenarios
The right Gallagher system depends on your herd size, your handling setup, and what you want to do with the data. Here are three common scenarios:
Scenario 1: The Family Farm (50-150 Suckler Cows)
You want accurate weights for health dosing and sale decisions. You're moving to EID ahead of the 2027 mandate. You have a fixed Ritchie crush in the handling shed.
- Recommended system: TW-1 weigh head + 2 x 2,500kg wireless load bars (600mm) + HR4 EID stick reader
- Cost before FETF: Approximately £2,200-2,800 (contact us for a quote)
- After 50% FETF grant: Approximately £1,100-1,400
- Why this works: The TW-1 touchscreen is intuitive, wireless bars mean no cables around the crush, and the HR4 reader handles all your EID scanning. Syncs automatically to the Animal Performance App.
Scenario 2: The Commercial Beef Unit (150-500+ Head)
You're buying and selling cattle regularly, need to dose accurately, and want to identify performance outliers quickly. You may be entering cattle in performance recording schemes.
- Recommended system: TW-3 weigh head + 2 x 2,500kg wireless load bars + HR5 EID stick reader, or upgrade to TWR-5 for fully integrated EID
- Why TW-3 or TWR-5: Life data recording and multiple trait capture is where you get return on investment at this scale. Tracking individual animal growth curves across a large herd requires the more advanced data tools.
Scenario 3: The Mobile Setup
You farm spread-out fields, bring a handling trailer to the animals, and need a system that travels.
- Recommended system: TW-1 + 2 x 2,500kg wireless load bars (confirm bar length to fit your portable crate)
- Why wireless is non-negotiable here: On a mobile trailer setup, running cables is impractical and dangerous. Wireless bars install once under the crate and travel with it. No cables to manage in the field.
FETF 2026: Get 50% Back Before 28 April
The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) 2026 is open now, with the Animal Health & Welfare theme providing 50% grant funding on eligible Gallagher weighing and EID equipment.
Key dates and facts:
- Applications opened: 17 March 2026
- Closing deadline: 28 April 2026 at midday — this is a hard deadline, no extensions
- Grant amount: 50% of eligible equipment costs, between £1,000 and £25,000 per theme
- FETF78: Covers weigh heads and complete weighing systems
- FETF79: Covers load bars, platforms, and weighing accessories
- Who can apply: Farmers in England with an active Single Business Identifier (SBI) number
DEADLINE: 28 APRIL 2026. With just weeks remaining, you need to act now. Applications are processed in order received. Don't wait until the last week — systems can sell out. Call Dalton Supplies today for a grant-ready quote.
At Dalton Supplies, we produce FETF-ready quotes that list the exact product codes and grant-eligible amounts for your application. Call our team and we'll turn around a quote within 24 hours.
Why Buy from Dalton Supplies?
There are several Gallagher dealers in the UK. Here's why Dalton Supplies is the right choice for your weighing and EID system:
- Expert advice, not just a catalogue: We know this range inside out. We can tell you whether 600mm or 1,000mm bars will fit your specific crush make and model. We can advise which head is right for your herd size and aspirations. This is product knowledge built from real conversations with the people who designed the products.
- FETF grant support: We produce grant-ready quotations and can guide you through the application process. We want you to get your 50%.
- Local to the north of England: We understand northern farming. We understand mixed weather, muddy yards, and tough working environments. The products we sell are tested in those conditions.
- After-sale support: We don't disappear after the sale. If you have a commissioning question, a calibration query, or need to order replacement parts, we're here.
- Buy online or call for expert help: Some customers know exactly what they want and just need it delivered quickly — use our store. Others want to talk it through first — call us. We're set up for both.
Ready to build your system? Call us now: 01845 578325
Or browse the full range at www.daltonsupplies.com/collections/cattle-and-sheep-eid-tag-readers