Charters Towers Combined Agents yarded a total of 640 cattle on April 3, consisting of 196 prime cattle and 444 store cattle. The prime cattle consisted of 19 bullocks, 31 heifers, 138 cows and seven bulls. Store cattle consisted of 121 steers, 299 heifers and 24 cows and 24 calves.
Cattle comprised small lines of well finished cows with limited bullocks and lesser conditioned cattle making up the yarding. Cattle were drawn from Geenvale, Einasleigh, Mt Garnet, Georgetown, Hughenden, as well as local and coastal areas
Prime Quotes:
Heavy bullocks were quoted as 5c dearer, heifers were 60c dearer due to better quality cattle on previous weeks, cows were 15-20c dearer and bulls were 20c dearer compared to previous rates. Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 264c and averaged 239c, and those over 500kg topped at 250c to average 250c. Heifers under 440kg sold to 222c and averaged 202c, while heifers over 440kg topped at 236c, averaging 231c. Cows under 400kg made 180c and averaged 156c, while cows over 400kg reached 207c, averaging 188c. Bulls under 450kg made 265c and averaged 249c, while bulls over 450kg reached 278c to average 270c.
Bullocks topped at 250c, sold on a/c Henry Family Trust that weighed 537kg to return $1342/head. Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c Burdekin Downs that sold 236c and weighed at 460kg to return $1086/head. One cow donated to the north/west flood appeal a/c Goodcamp reaching 202c that weighed at 460kg to return $970. The top pen of cows were sold by M L Bethel for 207c and weighed 650kg to return $1450/head. Bulls sold on a/c Gleneden Past Co topped at 278c and weighed 650kg, to return $1808.
Store Quotes:
Store cattle consisted of a mixed yarding with isolated pens of better quality steers and larger runs of Brahman heifers selling to a stronger market, with unchanged rates for plainer steers and heifers.
Steers under 200kg reached 292c to average 292c, steers 200 - 320kg sold to 274c, averaging 219c, steers 320 - 400kg topped at 263c and averaged 249c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 218c and averaged 185c, heifers 200 - 320kg sold to 234c, averaging 196c, while heifers 320 - 370kg made 232c to average 223c.
A pen of Brahman steers a/c BA & RA Howe made 274c and weighed 303kg, returning an average of $830/head. A pen of Brahman steers a/c JH Foot and W Brownsey made 292c and weighed 197kg for a return of $575/head. A good pen of Brahman cross heifers a/c J H Foot and W Brownsey made 232c, weighed 340kg and returned an average of $789/head.
A run of 114 Brahman heifers donated a/c Atkinson Developments to the north/west flood appeal reached 236c weighed 185kg returning $439/head. Seven heifers donated a/c BA & RA Howe, Zig Zag Station reached 228c weighing 291kg returning $663/head. Three cow and calf units sold on a/c J C Bethel Pty Ltd returned at $1270/unit.
