FARMERS HELPING FARMERS
HOW TO ESTIMATE YOUR COW OR CALF’S WEIGHT
Prepared by: Dr. John VanLeeuwen
Why do you need to know the weight of your cow (or calf)?
Girth
(cm)
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
105
110
115
120
125
130
135
140
145
150
155
160
165
170
175
180
185
190
195
200
205
210
Weight
(kgs)
35
40
45
50
59
69
79
89
104
119
135
150
170
190
210
230
251
276
303
330
362
395
432
469
507
545
583
623
663
703
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It is important to accurately estimate your cow’s
weight when you are:
o Determining how much dewormer to buy
o Calculating how much medication to give
her when she is sick
If she does not get enough, the medication or
dewormer may not work and you will be wasting
your money.
Giving a cow too little will also contribute to a
resistance the medication or dewormer.
What you need: a measuring tape or rope
OR
How to measure:
1. Place the measuring tape or rope around the cow
just behind the shoulders, and pull it snug but not tight,
like a comfortable belt you wear (see picture below):
2. Read the measurement on the tape where the ends meet in CENTIMETERS (cm) and
compare to the table on this page. If you have a rope, make a knot in the rope and then
compare its length to a measuring tape and then use the table on this page.
November 2012
The content of this fact sheet is the property of Farmers Helping Farmers. It may be
reprinted with acknowledgement.