GOODWILL and generosity returned to Charters Towers with the resumption of regularly weekly prime and store cattle sales at the Dalrymple Saleyards last week.
Charters Towers Combined Agents yarded 1478 head last Wednesday, consisting of 532 prime cattle and 946 store cattle, in what was just the second sale for the year following disruptions from the monsoon.
Among those selling was Donald Burnett from Mt Douglas Pastoral Co, Belyando, who donated two lots of heifers with proceeds going to BlazeAid to help with flood relief in the north west.
Mr Burnett, who runs about 2500 breeders on his 32 hectare property south of Charters Towers, said he was lucky enough to have had a great season and wanted to give back to those doing it tough.
"The season has been unreal, we've had great rain, great grass rain, without the flooding rain they had out west," Mr Burnett said.
"I've got a cousin who had a property north of Julia Creek, and they estimate they lost at least 1000 head of cattle.
"It's just mates helping mates."
Mr Burnett donated 28 crossbred store heifers, weighing an average of 301kg to total 8430kg.
They sold for an average of $458.13 to gross $12,827.72 which was donated direct to BlazeAid. Geaney’s Real Estate & Livestock also supported Blaze-Aid by not charging any fees for the sale of those cattle.
Agents said the prime cattle was comparable to the southern markets at the March 6 sale due to dry conditions in the south leading to large numbers of cattle hitting the market. The store cattle, however, compared strongly to southern and central markets.
It was only the second sale for the year following the first on January 16, when 1146 head were yarded, with monsoonal rain across the north forcing the cancellation of some sales.
Mr Burnett said he would hold off returning to Dalrymple Saleyards in the short term to see how the season and market progressed.
"There is talk of rain in eastern NSW and eastern Queensland in the next little while so I might hold off for a bit.
"The good quality steers are still making good money, but anything else is a bit ordinary."
Mr Burnett is no stranger to the Dalrymple Saleyards, with the property having been in his family for 92 years.
"We mainly target the EU market for the steers and fat cows and the unwanted trade heifers go to Charters Towers."