Charters Towers Combined Agents yarded a total of 1478 cattle on Wednesday, consisting of 532 prime cattle and 946 store cattle. The prime cattle consisted of 110 bullocks, 33 heifers, 315 cows and 74 bulls. Store cattle consisted of 652 steers, 279 heifers and 15 cows and calves.
Cattle consisted of smaller lines of well finished cows and bullocks with the rest of the yarding made up of plainer type cattle. The yarding was drawn from Gracemere, Belyando, Einasleigh, Mt Garnet and local and coastal areas.
Prime quotes:
This week’s prime cattle can be compared to the southern market due to the dry conditions in the south with large numbers of cattle hitting the market. However, the store cattle compared strong to southern and central markets.
Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 240c and averaged 188.8c, and those over 500kg topped at 250.2c to average 234.8c. Heifers under 440kg sold to 170c and averaged 140c. Cows under 400kg made 148.2c and averaged 103.5c, while cows over 400kg reached 161.2c, averaging 126.2c. Bulls under 450kg made 245.2c and averaged 151.8c, while bulls over 450kg reached 232.2c to average 190.7c.
Bullocks topped at 250c/kg sold on a/c E and H Matthews, that weighed 660kg to return $1650/head. Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c Danny Duell, that sold for 170c and weighed 386kg to return $656/head. The top pen of cows was sold by Mt Douglas Pastoral Co, for 161c weighing 673kg to return $1084/head. Bulls sold on a/c Hewitt Pastoral topped at 230c and weighed 690kg to return $1587/head.
Store quotes:
Store cattle comprised larger runs of crossbred and Brahman steers from the south with the Brahman cattle selling well. However, the crossbred cattle eased throughout the market. Heifers consisted of good light cattle with Brahmans selling strong once again.
Steers under 200kg reached 300.2c to average 279.9c, steers 200 – 320kg sold to 270.2c, averaging 212.2c, steers 320 – 400kg topped at 240c and averaged 217.9c. Mickeys under 400kg averaged 154c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 226.2c and averaged 188.1c, heifers 200 – 320kg sold to 216.2c, averaging 156.2c, while heifers 320 – 370kg made 166.2c to average 143.1c.
A pen of 15 steers a/c NE and RM Hughes, made 300c and weighed 180kg, returning and average of $540/head. A good pen of six heifers a/c BW and MI Landsberg made 216c, weighed 298kg returning $644/head. Five x five cows and calves sold on a/c BW and MI Landsberg returned $1150/unit.
