A total of 1806 cattle were yarded at the Charters Towers store and prime sale held on Wednesday which saw the $4/kg barrier broken for the first time in Dalrymple Saleyards history.
A pen of 18 light weight Brahman feeder steers sold by Jenny Cowan, Pine Creek, Bowen set the record when they reached 400c to weigh 151kg and return $605/head.
The prime cattle yarding included 1005 head consisting of 167 bullocks, 104 heifers, 676 cows and five bulls.
Cattle were comprised of smaller lines of well finished cattle, predominately made up of cows from all areas of North Queensland.
The yarding was drawn from Burketown, Georgetown, Mt Garnet, Greenvale, Atherton tablelands, local and coastal areas with all lines selling to a better market. Bullocks were quoted as 1-2c dearer, heifers were unchanged in price and cows were up 10-12c on the previous sale.
Heifers to 440kg reached 299c to average 250c, and four heifers over 440kg averaged 260c.
Cows to 400kg made 238c to average 220c, and those over 400kg hit 274c to average 249c.
Steers and bullocks to 500kg peaked at 299c to average 274c, while those over 500kg topped at 291c to average 283c. Bulls over 450kg made 262c to average 243c.
A pen of two Brahman bullocks sold by Landers Creek Pastoral Co, Ayr Bullocks made 299c to weigh 360kg and return $1077, while the top priced trade heifers were sold by JD and RM Lyons, Wambiana, Charters Towers for 298c to weigh 430kg and return $1282.
The top pen of cows were sold by Weir Grazing, Amelia Downs, Charters Towers for 274c to weigh 472kg and return $1296, while bulls sold by Mann Beef, Dosey Springs, Charters Towers topped at 262c and weighed 623kg to return $1634.
A total of 801 store cattle were yarded consisting of 368 steers, 343 heifers and 90 cows and 91 calves. Store cattle were in good fresh condition and represented all northern areas. The market was good with a new record price set for a pen of feeder steers, and heifers also sold to improved rates.
Steers to 200kg reached 400c to average 352c, 200-320kg steers made 388c to average 307c, steers 320-400kg hit 330c to average 295c and those over 400kg averaged 285c.
Heifers to 200kg topped at 340c to average 280c, 200-320kg heifers made 301c to average 270c, heifers 320-370kg hit 310c to average 281c and those over 370kg reached 296c to average 270c.
As well as making saleyard history a good pen of nine Brahman heifers sold by Ms Cowan made 340c to weigh 159kg and return $540, while 36 x 36 Brahman cows and calves sold by LT and CP Curley, Sutherland, Georgetown returned $1480/unit.
