A total of 1386 cattle consisting of 827 prime cattle and 559 store cattle were yarded for the Charters Towers store and prime sale held on Wednesday.
Slaughter types comprised of 68 bullocks, 57 heifers, 677 cows and 25 bulls, and feeder lines consisting of 171 steers, 366 heifers, and 12 cows and 17 calves.
The yarding featured well finished export cattle, mostly cows with a good line drawn from Dimbulah. The cattle were drawn from all parts of North Queensland with cattle from Richmond, Pentland, Mareeba, Dimbulah, local and coastal areas.
The prime market was well supported and firm across the board. Bullocks were quoted as 2-6c/kg dearer, heifers were up 8-12c and cows were 6-8c higher on the previous sale figures.
Heifers to 440kg reached 287c to average 255c, while eight heifers over 440kg averaged 245c.
Cows to 400kg made 260c to average 219c, while those over 400kg hit 280c to average 253c.
Steers and bullocks to 500kg returned 307c to average 291c, while those over 500kg peaked at 301c to average 281c. Bulls over 450kg crested at 280c to average 268c.
Bullocks topped at 307c for a pen of nine Brahman bullocks sold by J & L Pastoral Co, Ingham weighing 440kg to return $1351/head, while the top priced trade heifers were presented by Ray Jones, Richmond which made 287c to weigh 375kg and return $1077.
The top pen of cows were sold by Everglades Trading, Gainsford, Charters Towers for 280c and weighed 508kg to return $1424, and Bulls sold by RC Flute, Chatfield, Richmond topped at 271c and weighed 815kg to return $2210.
Store cattle yarded consisted of mostly smaller lines of local cattle presented in good condition and the market was firm. Cattle were generally good in quality and buyer support was strong.
Steers between 200-320kg made 319c to average 274c and those between 320-400kg reached 310c to average 293c. No steers under 200kg or over 400kg yarded for the sale.
Heifers to 200kg reached 208c to average 195c, 200-320kg heifers peaked at 306c to average 258c and those between 320-370kg returned 284c to average 282c. No heifers over 370kg yarded for the sale.
A pen of 12 Brahman steers sold by ES Loudon, Wirra Wirra, Forsayth made 319c and weighed 201kg to return $643, while a good pen of nine Brahman heifers sold by Kamarooka Partnership, Charters Towers made 306c weighing 243kg to return $745.
A total of 22x17 cows and calves sold by J & S Witherspoon, Charters Towers returned $1090/unit.
