Charters Towers combined agents yarded a total of 1017 cattle on December 6 consisting of 343 prime cattle and 674 store cattle. The prime cattle consisted of 109 bullocks, 26 heifers, 170 cows and 38 bulls. Store cattle yarded: 451 steers, 217 heifers, and 6 x 5 cows and calves.
Cattle comprised of mixed quality, with isolated pens of quality cattle. The prime section was back 5–10 c across the board with not all processors operating.
The yarding was drawn from Mt Garnet, Richmond, Hughenden, Mt Isa, Winton local and coastal areas.
Prime Quotes: Bullocks were quoted 2-5 c easier, heifers were 15c easier, cows were 5c easier and bulls were 8-10c easier on last week’s rates.
Bullocks topped at 262c for Brahman cross bullocks sold on from Brown and Sons, weighed 610kg to return $1599.
Best priced trade heifers were presented on from SJ&RJ Neal, made 241c to weigh 440kg and return $1061.
The top pen of cows were sold by T Whitten for 215c and weighed 590kg to return $1269.
Bulls sold on from P Bucknell topped at 240c and weighed 780kg to return $1872.
Store Quotes: Store cattle were mixed quality with sufficient lines of northern mickeys and plainer types. Buyers competed strongly on the better quality and lighter cattle.
A pen of steers from K Barnicoat made 278c, and weighed 408kg returning an average of $1136.
A pen of mickeys from Fleetwood Grazing made 388c to weigh 116kg to average $453.
A pen of Brahman heifers from Burnett Holdings made 259c, to weigh 328kg to return $850.
A good pen of Brahman heifers from PL Corfield made 304c, weighed 192kg, returning an average of $584.