Charters Towers Combined Agents yarded a total of 1558 cattle consisting of 1146 prime cattle and 412 store cattle. The prime cattle consisted of 459 bullocks, 85 heifers, 409 cows and 193 b. Store cattle consisted of 195 steers and 217 heifers. Cattle comprised of two big lines of Gulf bullocks and bulls supported by local cattle.
The yarding was drawn from Burketown, Normanton, Greenvale, Richmond, Collinsville, local and coastal cattle. The market improved across the board for all slaughter cattle.
Prime Quotes:
Heavy bullocks were quoted as 5c dearer, heifers were 5c dearer, cows were 5c dearer and bulls were 5c dearer on last week’s rates.
Heifers under 440kg sold to 209c and averaged 178c, while heifers over 440kg topped at 238c, averaging 238c. Cows under 400kg made 178c and averaged 146c, while cows over 400kg reached 211c, averaging 188c. Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 249c and averaged 207c, and those over 500kg topped at 252c to average 247c. Bulls under 450kg made 224c and averaged 190c, while bulls over 450kg reached 228c to average 198c.
Bullocks topped at 253c/kg for 16 Brahman cross bullocks sold on a/c EJT & KL Camp, Floraville that weighed 603kg to return $1525/ head. A line of 229 bullocks sold account EJT & KJ Camp, Floraville, Burketown, averaged 243c weighed 544kg to realise $1323. Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c K and M Vaughan, Greenvale, that sold 238c to weigh 481kg and return $1146/head. The top pen of cows were sold by AR and DL Archer, for 210c and weighed 663kg to return $1392/head. Bulls sold on account Shay Wilmot topped at 228c weighed 870kg to return $1985.
Store Quotes:
Store cattle were only average quality and showing signs of the dry times. Prices were in line with the quality.
Steers 200 – 320kg sold to 251c, averaging 227c, and steers 320 – 400kg topped at 234c and averaged 216c. Heifers 200 – 320kg sold to 198c, averaging 139c, heifers 320 – 370kg made 230c to average 185c, while heifers over 370kg reached 208c to average 171c.
A pen of 10 steers a/c LJ Mather and TA Lymer made 238c and weighed 229kg, returning an average of $545/head. A good pen of 13 heifers a/c Mt McConnell made 230c, weighed 308kg and returned an average of $709/head. Cow and calf units were insufficient to quote.