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Livestock Weigh Crate Finance

Spread the cost of a livestock weigh crate from £600 to £8,000 with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance, compare rates from 40+ lenders.

Can you finance a livestock weigh crate?

Yes, livestock weigh crates are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £600 to £8,000, and most deals are written over 12–48 months with a deposit of around 10–20%. Decisions typically take 24–48 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

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Typical Cost

£600 – £8k

Approval Speed

24–48 hours

Same-day for most orders

Rates From

4.5% APR

What would a livestock weigh crate cost per month?

£2,600
10%
60 months
9%
£0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical livestock weigh crate price. Indicative only, not a quote.

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Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate
From 4.9% APR
Term
12–48 months
Deposit
10–20%
Ownership
Yours at the end
Best for
Farmers wanting to own weighing equipment outright

Finance Lease

Rate
From 4.5% APR
Term
12–48 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for
Tax-efficient, claim 100% of payments against profit

Operating Lease

Rate
From 5.2% APR
Term
12–36 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return at end
Best for
Keep electronic weighing accurate and current without capital outlay

Representative example

On a purchase price of £2,600: a 10% deposit of £260, then 48 monthly payments of £55 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £2,900, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification Guide price Type
Sheep Weigh Crate (manual read-out class) £600 – £1,600 Sheep Weigh Crate
Sheep Weigh Crate with Electronic Indicator £1,800 – £3,200 Electronic Weigh Crate
Cattle Weigh Crate (standalone, load bar class) £3,000 – £5,500 Cattle Weigh Crate
Ritchie Cattle Crush Weigh Platform (add-on to existing crush) £595 – £714 (+VAT to inc. VAT) Weigh Platform

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Tax benefits

Livestock weigh crates are moveable plant and generally qualify for the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), letting a farmer deduct the full cost from taxable profits in the year of purchase, up to £1,000,000, subject to the normal AIA rules. HP gives access to capital allowances directly; lease payments are normally deductible from farming profits. A weigh platform bought as an add-on to an existing crush is treated as a separate item of plant in its own right, even though it is fitted onto another asset once delivered.

Market context

Weigh crates and weigh platforms are bought by cattle and sheep farmers of all sizes, from a smallholder wanting accurate weights for dosing to a larger unit weighing regularly to meet a buyer's or processor's specification at sale. Accurate weighing is often what allows a farm to hit a specific carcass weight window set by a buyer, so the equipment is frequently justified by the premium or the reduced rejection rate that accurate weighing helps a farm achieve rather than bought as a general convenience item. Replacement is generally driven by the accuracy and calibration of the load cells and indicator rather than a fixed age, since an inaccurate reading has a direct effect on how animals are sold. Farm income is seasonal, so finance for weighing equipment is commonly timed around lambing, calving or the start of a finishing programme.

Bad credit?

Several of our 200+ lenders specialise in businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options exist. Checking your options here does not affect your credit score, because we do not run a credit search to match you. A lender will run their own checks only if you decide to apply.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I finance a weigh crate on its own or does it need a full crush?
You can finance a weigh crate or weigh platform on its own, it does not need to be part of a full crush purchase. A weigh platform bought as an add-on to an existing crush is treated as a separate item of plant in its own right for finance purposes, even though it is physically fitted onto another asset once delivered. This means you can add accurate weighing to equipment you already own without needing to replace the whole handling system, which is a common and cost-effective upgrade for many sheep and cattle farms.
Can I finance used weighing equipment?
Yes, used weigh crates and platforms can be financed, though lenders will want to see the accuracy and calibration status of the load cells and indicator specifically, since these are what an inaccurate reading directly affects when animals are sold to a buyer's specification. A unit sold through a specialist livestock equipment dealer with a recent calibration check is generally easier to finance than a private sale with no calibration history. This can be a practical way to add accurate weighing at a lower cost than buying new.
What deposit do I need?
Hire purchase typically asks for a deposit of around 10 to 20% of the equipment's cost, with the balance spread over the agreed term and ownership passing to you at the end. Given the relatively low cost of most weigh crates and platforms, a finance lease or operating lease with no deposit is also commonly used, particularly when the equipment is being timed to be ready ahead of lambing, calving or a sale. The deposit level also depends on whether the equipment is new or used and your farm's trading history.
How quickly can weigh crate finance be approved?
Given the relatively low cost of most weigh crates and weigh platforms, finance is commonly approved within 24 to 48 hours once your application, the supplier's quote and basic farm details are with the lender. A larger auto-drafting system with electronic weighing and drafting controls may take a little longer, around three to five working days, since the lender is reviewing a more detailed specification. Having your supplier's quote ready before applying keeps the process quick.
Is it worth financing a weigh crate given its relatively low cost?
For a single basic weigh crate, many smaller farms buy outright, since the cost is low enough that finance offers little advantage over cash. Finance becomes more worthwhile for a larger auto-drafting system with electronic weighing and drafting controls, or where the weigh platform is one part of a wider handling system upgrade, since spreading a bigger combined cost over a term timed around lambing or calving keeps more cash free during the farm's busiest and most cash-sensitive periods.
What happens if I want to upgrade to a bigger system before the agreement ends?
The financed equipment remains the lender's security until the agreement is settled, so it cannot be sold or part-exchanged without first clearing the outstanding balance, usually done from the part-exchange value at the point of the upgrade. This is a common situation as a farm moves from a basic weigh crate to a larger auto-drafting system as the flock grows, and most lenders will provide a settlement figure on request and roll any shortfall into a new agreement for the upgraded system.

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