Charters Towers combined agents yarded a total of 943 head last week consisting of 552 prime cattle and 391 store cattle.
The prime cattle consisted of 98 bullocks, 52 heifers, 326 cows and 76 bulls. Store cattle consisted of 136 steers, 194 heifers and 61 cows and calves.
Cattle comprised of fewer lines of good bullocks, a run of good heavy cows with a few lesser northern cows.
The yarding was drawn from Forsayth, Chillagoe, Mt Garnet, Bowen, local and coastal areas. Bullocks were quoted 5c easier, heifers were 10c dearer, cows were 10c dearer and bulls were 5c easier, on last week’s rates.
Prime quotes: Heifers under 440kg sold to 217.2c and averaged 197.1c, while heifers over 440kg topped at 221.2 and averaged 219.6c. Cows under 400kg made 154.2c and averaged 107.8c, while cows over 400kg reached 191.2c, averaging 180.1c.
Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 239.2c and averaged 199c, and those over 500kg topped at 243.2c to average 229.6c. Bulls under 450kg sold to 269.2c and averaged 198.5c, and bulls over 450kg made 270.2c and averaged 237.8c.
Bullocks topped at 243c/kg sold on a/c Est. of MJ McMahon weighing 600kg to return $1459/hd. Top priced trade heifers were presented on a/c Mt McConnel Grazing making 221c to weigh 489kg and return $1080/hd.
The top pen of cows was sold by Helenslee Holdings for 191c and weighed 630kg to return $1207/hd.
Bulls sold on a/c RE & E Matthews topped at 267c and weighed 750kg to return $2004/hd.
Store cattle consisted of a few smaller lines of good quality local weaners and some mixed lines of steers and heifers, selling to a lesser competition.
Store Quotes: Steers under 200kg reached 260c and averaged 239.2c, steers 200 – 320kg sold to 252.2c, averaging 234.4c, and steers 320 – 400kg topped at 248.2c and averaged 240.6c, while steers over 400kg made 241.2c, averaging 231.5c.
Heifers under 200kg topped at 188.2c and averaged 147.4c, heifers 200 – 320kg sold to 175.2c, averaging 153.2c, while heifers 320 – 370kg made 190c to average 188.2.
A pen of 12 steers a/c PAW Bucknell, made 260c and weighed 200kg and realised $520/hd.
A good pen of 11 heifers a/c D Alloway, made 188c, weighed 145kg and returned an average of $272/hd. 57 cows and calves sold on a/c RJ Priestley, returned $1090 per unit.
