Charters Towers Combined Agents yarded a total of 905 cattle consisting of 589 prime cattle and 316 store cattle. The prime cattle consisted of 158 bullocks, 32 heifers, 341 cows and 58 bulls. Store cattle consisted of 174 steers, 138 heifers and four cows and calves. Cattle comprised of a few good pens of bullocks and cows which were met with strong demand with the plainer types selling to similar rates.
The yarding was drawn from Cloncurry, Richmond, Hughenden, Tully, Mt Coolon, Home Hill, local and coastal areas. Bullocks were quoted 20-25c dearer, heifers were 15-20c dearer, cows were 20-25c dearer and bulls were 20-25c dearer on last week’s rates.
Prime Quotes:
Heifers under 440kg sold to 255c and averaged 224c, while heifers over 440kg topped at 264c, averaging 260c. Cows under 400kg made 200c and averaged 133c, while cows over 400kg reached 252c, averaging 209c. Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 288c and averaged 252c, and those over 500kg topped at 288c to average 279c. Bulls under 450kg made 278c and averaged 250c, while bulls over 450kg reached 275c to average 236c.
A pen of 14 good bullocks sold on a/c KA Knuth Invest, Glencoe, Charters Towers made 280c to weigh 675kg and returned $1891/head. Bullocks topped at 288c for 13 bullocks sold on a/c Craigs Pocket Invest, Afton Downs, Hughenden that weighed 632kg to return $1822/head. Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c D&T Humphreys, Bushland Beach that sold for 264.2c and weighed 466kg to return $1231/head.
The top pen of cows was sold by AR & VA Titley, Charters Towers for 235.2c, weighing 575kg to return $1352/ head. Bulls sold on a/c GA & WL Collins, Cotonvale, Prairie topped at 275c and weighed 640kg to return $1761/head.
Store Quotes:
Store cattle consisted of a few good runs of export type cattle which met with increased competition from traders and exporters. Younger cattle and second grade types found the market tougher.
Steers under 200kg reached 258c to average 254c, steers 200 – 320kg sold to 279c, averaging 252c, steers 320 – 400kg topped at 280c and averaged 255c and steers over 400kg sold to 270c to average 270c. Mickeys under 400kg, averaged 250c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 220c and averaged 174c, heifers 200 – 320kg sold to 225c, averaging 196c, while heifers 320 – 370kg made 230c to average 207c.
A pen of six steers a/c M&P Prichard, Ravenswood made 280.2c and weighed 338kg, returning an average of $948/head. A good pen of heifers on a/c AC Hyden, Rivergum Stn, Dalbeg made 230c, weighed 325kg, returning $747/head. Cows and calves sold on a/c Clothes Peg Pastoral Co, Hughenden returned $660/unit.
