Charters Towers Combined Agents yarded a total of 1584 head last Wednesday, consisting of 829 prime cattle and 755 store cattle. Prime cattle consisted of 251 bullocks, 37 heifers, 410 cows and 31 bulls. Store cattle consisted of 287 steers, 108 mickeys, 359 heifers and seven cows and calves.
The yarding was drawn from Burketown, Mt surprise, Einasleigh, Croydon, Tully, Richmond, Torrens creek, Muttaburra, local and coastal areas.
Prime quotes: Bullocks were quoted 11-15c easier, heifers were 7-15c easier, cows were 7-15c easier and bulls were 7-10c dearer on the previous week's rates. A very good run of 101 bullocks a/c Mt Douglas Pastoral Co averaged 268.2c at 598.3kg to return $1604.73/head.
Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 251c and averaged 236c, and those over 500kg topped at 278c to average 256c. Heifers under 440kg sold to 226c and averaged 182c, while heifers over 440kg topped at 222c, averaging 216c. Cows under 400kg made 172c and averaged 113c, while cows over 400kg reached 179c, averaging 154c. Bulls under 450kg made 305c and averaged 268c, while bulls over 450kg reached 304c to average 273c.
Bullocks topped at 278.2c for 10 Brahman ox sold on a/c Philipson Holdings, Pentland that weighed 565kg to return $1571.83/head. Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c Almora Pastoral Co, Bourketown that sold for 226.2c and weighed 410kg to return $927.42/head. The top pen of cows was sold by JR Connolly, Uramo station, Innot Hot springs for 179.2c, weighing 557kg to return $1077/head. Bulls sold on a/c N Leader, Charters Towers topped at 289.2c and weighed 500kg to return $1446/head.
Store quotes: Store cattle were made up of some good lines of feeder steers, no. 8 and n. 9 weaners and good runs of heifers from Croydon, Bowen and Tully. Steers were firm to easier with numbers significantly back on last week and heifers were somewhat stronger on last week's rates by up to 12c in places.
Steers under 200kg reached 262c to average 259c, steers 200 - 320kg sold to 269c, averaging 245c, steers 320 - 400kg topped at 265c and averaged 240c and steers over 400kg sold to 264c to average 256c. Mickeys under 450kg sold to 305c, averaging 268c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 180c and averaged 164c, heifers 200 - 320kg sold to 200c, averaging 173c, while heifers 320 - 370kg made 196c to average 179c.
A pen of 10 steers a/c Almora pastoral Co, Almora, Bourketown made 264.2c and weighed 403kg, returning an average of $1064.73/ head. LJ & B Schneider topped the steer sale at 269.2c weighing 280kg to return $753.76/head. A good pen of heifers on a/c LJ & B Schnieder, made 200.2c, weighed 262kg returning $523.86/head. Small lines of cows and calves sold to $600/unit.