Charters Towers Combined Agents yarded a total of 1120 cattle on Wednesday, consisting of 539 prime cattle and 581 store cattle. The prime cattle consisted of 62 bullocks, 85 heifers, 342 cows and 50 bulls. Store cattle consisted of 345 steers, 228 heifers, 0 cows, 8 cows and calves. Cattle comprised a small line of bullocks with large percentage of good cows. The yarding was drawn from Mt Isa, Pentland, Georgetown, Croydon, Townsville, local and coastal areas. Bullocks were quoted 2c dearer and heifers were 5c easier. Cows were 3c dearer and bulls were no change on last week’s rates.
Prime quotes:
Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 271.2c and averaged 252.5c, and those over 500kg topped at 293.2c to average 279.8c. Heifers under 440kg sold to 246.2c and averaged 219.2c, while heifers over 440kg topped at 245.2c, averaging 235.5c. Cows under 400kg made 220c and averaged 172.3c, while cows over 400kg reached 239.2c, averaging 224.4c. Bulls under 450kg made 271.2c and averaged 233.1c, while bulls over 450kg reached 273.2c to average 246.8c.
Bullocks topped at 291.2c/kg for eight ox sold on a/c AJ & BA Smith, that weighed 521kg to return $1517/head. Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c Cunningham Consolidated that sold for 246.2c to weigh 408kg and return $1005/head. The top pen of cows were sold by Burdekin Downs for 239.2c and weighed 537kg to return $1283/head. Bulls sold on a/c G. Garland topped at 273.2c and weighed 760kg to return $2076/head.
Store Quotes:
There were some good lines of store steers and heifers meeting local and export competition. Steers under 200kg reached 268.2c to average 258.1c, steers 200 – 320kg sold to 288.2c, averaging 250.6c, steers 320 – 400kg topped at 289.2c and averaged 260.9c and steers over 400kg sold to 248.2c to average 248.2c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 269.2c and averaged 229c, heifers 200 – 320kg sold to 232.2c, averaging 205.5c, while heifers 320 – 370kg made 298.2c to average 198.2c.
A pen of 10 steers a/c Estate of C. Carrick made 289.2c and weighed 330kg, returning an average of $954/head. A good pen of five heifers on a/c A. Kane made 232.2c, weighed 268kg and returned an average of $622/head. Six x six cows and calves sold on a/c Big Country Helicopters returned $680/unit.