A magnetoelastic load cell for providing an output signal indicative of a force applied to the load cell comprises a magnetoelastically active, ferromagnetic, magnetostrictive disk-shaped member having upper and lower surfaces and comprising a central hub, an annular rim and at least two slots formed therebetween for defining at least two generally spiral-shaped spokes extending between the upper and lower surfaces, each of the spokes traversing approximately 360 DEG between its origin at the hub and its termination at the rim. The spokes are magnetically polarized in a single circumferential direction and possess sufficient magnetic anisotropy to return the magnetization in the spokes, following the application of a force to the load cell, to the single circumferential direction when the applied force is reduced to zero. Magnetic field sensor means are mounted proximate to the member to sense the magnitude of the magnetic field produced by the member in response to the applied force. The member is formed of a polycrystalline material wherein at least 50 % of the distribution of local magnetizations lie within a 90 DEG quadrant symmetrically disposed around the single circular direction and has a coercivity sufficiently high that the field arising from the member does not magnetize proximate regions of the member to give rise to parasitic magnetic fields which are of sufficient strength to destroy the usefulness, for force sensing purposes, of the net magnetic field seen by the magnetic field sensor means.