Charters Towers Combined Agents yarded a total of 1178 cattle consisting of 666 prime cattle and 512 store cattle. The prime cattle consisted of 143 bullocks, 54 heifers, 419 cows and 50 bulls. store cattle consisted of 266 steers, 221 heifers and 25 x 23 cows and calves.
Cattle comprised a mixed yarding of bullocks with most of the prime cattle consisting of good condition cows. There was good competition from all major processors bar one. The yarding was drawn from Richmond, Mt Garnet, Croydon, Burketown, Forsayth, local and coastal areas.
Prime quotes:
Bullocks were quoted 5c dearer, heifers were unchanged, cows were 5c easier and bulls were 15-20c dearer on last week's rates.
Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 282c and averaged 248c, and those over 500kg topped at 286c to average 268c. Heifers under 440kg sold to 233c and averaged 198c, while heifers over 440kg topped at 221c, averaging 219c. Cows under 400kg made 184c and averaged 125c, while cows over 400kg reached 201c, averaging 182c. Bulls under 450kg made 298c and averaged 268c, while bulls over 450kg reached 298c to average 288c.
Bullocks topped at 286c for seven Brahman cross ox sold on a/c Felspar Grazing Co, that weighed 581kg to return $1664/head. Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c G and C Connolly, Prairie that sold for 233c and weighed 439kg to return $1023/head.
The top pen of cows was sold by Hillgrove Pastoral, Hillgrove Station, Charters Towers for 201c, weighing 590kg to return $1187/head. Bulls sold on a/c LD Kunth and Co Trust, St Pauls Station, Charters Towers topped at 292c and weighed 778kg to return $2274/head.
Store quotes:
Store cattle were of mixed quality with isolated pens of quality fresh weaners and feeder heifers. A good panel of buyers brought good competition to the standout pens. Steers quoted 20c dearer and heifers 10c dearer than last week's rates.
Steers under 200kg reached 306c to average 282c, steers 200 - 320kg sold to 298c, averaging 247c, steers 320 - 400kg topped at 259c and averaged 242c and steers over 400kg sold to 260c to average 251c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 159c and averaged 151c, heifers 200 - 320kg sold to 226c, averaging 164c, while heifers 320 - 370kg made 219c to average 207c.
A pen of 14 Brahman steers a/c S and T Golding, Brookdale, Pentland made 306c and weighed 196kg, returning an average of $517/head. Carter Family Trust sold six Brahman cross steers, reaching 260c, weighing 427kg, returning $1109/head.
A good pen of heifers on a/c S and T Golding, made 226c, weighed 214kg returning $483/head. A run of crossbred heifers a/c Mt Douglas Pastoral Co, Belyando reached 219c averaging 360kg, returning $789/head. 20 x 20 cows and calves sold on a/c of RJ Priestly, Big Reef Station, Forsayth, returned $820/unit.
