Charters Towers Combined Agents yarded a total of 1539 cattle consisting of 874 prime cattle and 665 store cattle. The prime cattle consisted of 295 bullocks, 54 heifers, 499 cows and 76 bulls. The store cattle consisted of 205 steers, 309 mickeys, 143 heifers and eight cows and calves.
Cattle comprised of a few better lines of finished prime cattle with the rest of the yarding made up of plainer types due to the seasonal conditions. The yarding was drawn from the Gulf, local and coastal areas as well as some consignments from the Downs.
Prime Quotes:
Bullocks were quoted 5-10c dearer, heifers were 15c dearer, cows were 5-10c dearer and bulls were 15c dearer on last week’s rates.
Heifers under 440kg sold to 245.2c and averaged 203.6c, while heifers over 440kg topped at 257.2c, averaging 253.9c. Cows under 400kg made 190.2c and averaged 149.9c, while cows over 400kg reached 219.2c, averaging 197.4c. Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 264.2c and averaged 224.3c, and those over 500kg topped at 263.2c to average 255.4c. Bulls over 450kg reached 246.2c to average 212.6c.
Bullocks topped at 264.2c/kg for 12 head sold on a/c Mickan Pastoral Co that weighed 484kg to return $1278/head. Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c SA & KL Wheeler which made 257.2c and weighed 503kg and return $1294/head. The top pen of cows was sold by KA Knuth Investments Pty Ltd, Glencoe Station, Charters Towers, for 219.2c and weighed 573kg to return $1254/head. Bulls sold on a/c KA Knuth Investments Pty Ltd, Glencoe Station, Charters Towers, topped at 244c and weighed 850kg to return $2075/head.
Store Quotes:
Store cattle were made up of good lines of local steers and also a larger line of northern males and a mixed yarding of store heifers.
Steers under 200kg reached 238.2c to average 215.1c, steers 200 – 320kg sold to 290.2c, averaging 247.2c, steers 320 – 400kg topped at 245.2c and averaged 224.6c and steers over 400kg sold to 245c to average 240.1c. Mickeys under 450kg sold to 283c, averaging 231c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 194.2c and averaged 176.5c, heifers 200 – 320kg sold to 188.2c, averaging 138.8c, while heifers 320 – 370kg made 231.2c to average 186.6c.
A pen of 36 steers a/c Lascelles Pastoral Co, made 290.2c and weighed 218kg, returning an average of $632/head. A good pen of eight heifers a/c Nardoo Pastoral made 231c, weighed 350kg and returned $809/head. Four x four cows and calves sold on a/c Geoff Brown, returned $850/unit.