Charters Towers Combined Agents yarded a total of 2303 head on July 11, consisting of 1190 prime cattle and 1113 store cattle.
The prime cattle comprised 263 bullocks, 30 heifers, 747 cows and 150 bulls. Store cattle comprised 663 steers, 431 heifers and 19 cows and calves.
Cattle was of mixed quality with most of the prime yarding consisting of good runs of northern prime condition cows. The yarding was drawn from Cloncurry, Mount Isa, Normanton, Georgetown, Forsayth, local and coastal areas.
Bullocks were quoted no change, heifers were 2-5c dearer, cows were 5c dearer and bulls were no change on last week’s rates.
Prime quotes:
Heifers under 440kg sold to 237c and averaged 205c, while heifers over 440kg topped at 225c, averaging 215c. Cows under 400kg made 188c and averaged 153c, while cows over 400kg reached 215c, averaging 190c. Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 248c and averaged 221c, and those over 500kg topped at 254c to average 241c. Bulls under 450kg sold to 267c and averaged 222c, while bulls over 450kg made 267c and averaged 229c.
Bullocks topped at 253c/kg for a pen of five head sold on a/c P & L Fryer weighing 570kg to return $1443/hd. Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c Laroona Pastoral Co that sold for 225c to weigh 468kg and return $1052/hd.
The top pen of cows were sold by Hammer Grazing Trust for 215c, weighing 587kg to return $1262/hd. Bulls sold on a/c S J Hancock topped at 267c and weighed 740kg to return $1977 /hd.
Store quotes:
Store cattle were of quality local steers and heifers along with runs of northern cattle. A larger panel of opportunist restockers was present.
Steers under 200kg reached 288c and averaged 265c, steers 200 – 320kg sold to 290c, averaging 246c, steers 320 – 400kg topped at 250c and averaged 229c and steers over 400kg sold to 246c and averaged 237c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 208c and averaged 200c, heifers 200 – 320kg sold to 216c, averaging 201c, while heifers 320 – 370kg made 232c to average 211c.
A pen of 22 steers a/c MJ Easton made 290c and weighed 225kg, returning an average of $652/hd. A good pen of 22 heifers a/c Trustee for the Estate of GW Carrick made 232c, weighed 325kg for a return of $754/hd. S Forrest sold 16 cows and 16 calves returning $980/unit.
