Charters Towers Combined Agents yarded a total of 1692 cattle on May 17, consisting of 1025 prime cattle and 667 store cattle.
The prime cattle consisted of 158 bullocks, 81 heifers, 705 cows and 81 bulls, while store cattle yarded consisted of 486 steers, 161 heifers and 12 x 10 cows and calves.
Cattle comprised of smaller lines of well finished bullocks and larger lines of well finished cows. The yarding was drawn from Weipa, Croyden, Mt Surprise, Georgetown, Richmond, Julia Creek, Bowen, coastal and local areas.
Bullocks were quoted 10c dearer, heifers were 8c dearer and cows were 10c dearer on last week’s rates.
The prime quotes a top of 285c/kg for a pen of Brahman bullocks sold on account of WPX & JS Ryan, Scoria, Mt Garnet that weighed 592kg to return $1689 per head.
Best priced trade heifers were presented on account of Laroona Pastoral Co which made 253c/kg to weigh 508kg and return $1288 per head.
The top pen of cows were sold by P & L Fryer, Tabletop, Hervey’s Range, for 233c/kg and weighed 544kg to return $1269 per head.
Bulls sold on account of Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, topped at 272c/kg and weighed 890kg to return $2455 per head.
Store quotes saw store cattle made up of few lines of good quality younger types which were met with solid competition.
A line of light weight steers on account of BA & LE Corbett made 384c/kg and weighed 213kg and realised $820 per head.
A pen of Brahman steers on account of S & J Farquhar made 340c/kg, weighed 270kg and made $918 per head.
A pen of light heifers sold on behalf of Derwent Investments made 312c/kg weighed 167kg and returned a good average of $522 per head.
A pen of Brahman heifers sold on account of K & L Woodhouse, Collinsville made 286c/kg, weighed 263kg and returned $753 per head.
Several small mobs of cows and calves sold from $750 to $1300 per unit.
The next prime and store sale is booked for Wednesday May 24.