Charters Towers combined agents yarded a total of 2587 cattle at its April 18 prime and store sale at Dalrymple saleyards. The yarding consisted of 1175 prime cattle and 1412 store cattle.
The prime cattle included 242 bullocks, 111 heifers, 776 cows and 46 bulls. Store cattle consisted of 733 steers, 619 heifers and 60 cows and calves.
Cattle comprised of good lines of well finished grass fed bullocks and cows with few bulls on offer.
The market was softer across all lines except bulls where exporters competed.
There was competition across all lines from meatworks, feedlotters, butchers and exporters.
The yarding was drawn from Georgetown, Forsayth, Einasleigh, Mt Surprise, Richmond, Julia Creek, Mareeba, Hughenden, Chillagoe, Bowen, local and coastal areas.
Bullocks were quoted 10-20c easier, heifers were 15-20c easier, cows were 20-30c and bulls were 10-20c dearer on last week’s rates.
Prime Quotes:
Bullocks topped at 252c/kg for a pen of 14 Ox sold by MG & HJ Breddan, Lakeview, Balfes Creek that weighed 578kg to return $1459 per head.
Best priced trade heifers were presented by Fry Bloodline Trust that sold for 220c and weighed 363kg to return $800.
The top pen of cows were sold by JC Ross, Starbright, Charters Towers, for 202c, weighing 509kg to return $1029.
Bulls sold by KJ & MM Taylor, Ooralat Station, Mt Surprise, topped at 267c and weighed 610kg to return $1629.
Store Quotes:
Store cattle were plentiful this week with good quality steers and heifers on offer.
The market fell in line with other selling centres with better types selling to similar rates as last week.
A pen of 30 steers from KJ & MM Taylor, Ooralat, Mt Surprise, made 310c and weighed 220kg, returning an average of $682.
A good pen of 19 heifers by KJ & MM Taylor, Ooralat, Mt Surprise, made 228c, weighed 234kg & returned an average of $534.
6 x 6 cows and calves sold by K Peace, Charters Towers returned $1320 per unit.
The next prime and store sale is booked for Wednesday, May 2.