Charters Towers Combined Agents yarded a total of 1709 head on Wednesday. Cattle consisted of 922 prime cattle and 787 store cattle. The prime cattle consisted of 132 bullocks, 79 heifers, 604 cows and 107 bulls. Store cattle consisted of 425 steers, 207 heifers and 155 cows and calves.
Cattle comprised smaller runs of well finished prime cattle with a fair yarding of just off the pace cows. The yarding was drawn from Georgetown, Greenvale, Hughenden, Tully, local and coastal areas.
Prime quotes:
Heavy bullocks were quoted as 15c dearer, heifers were 20c easier, cows were 20c easier and bulls were 10c dearer compared to last week's rates.
Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 294.2c and averaged 249c, and those over 500kg topped at 298.2c to average 285.4c. Heifers under 440kg sold to 190.2c and averaged 167.1c, while heifers over 440kg topped at 174.2c, averaging 170.7c. Cows under 400kg made 160c and averaged 98.8c, while cows over 400kg reached 180c, averaging 154.7c. Bulls under 450kg made 288.2c and averaged 245c, while bulls over 450kg reached 291.2c to average 254.9c.
Seven bullocks topped at 295.2c, sold on a/c KA Knuth, that weighed 611kg to return $1804/. Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c Mickan Contracting, that sold for 180.2c and weighed 430kg to return $775/head. The top pen of cows were sold by Hillgrove Pastoral, Hillgrove Station, Charters Towers, for 180.0c and weighed 553kg to return $995/head. Bulls sold on a/c LD Knuth & Co Trust, St. Pauls Station, Charters Towers, topped at 291.2c and weighed 705kg, to return $2053/head.
Store quotes:
Store cattle consisted of fewer big lines of one brand with quality cattle selling to high demand.
Steers under 200kg reached 288.2c to average 280.7c, steers 200 - 320kg sold to 286.2c, averaging 251.2c, steers 320 - 400kg topped at 260.2c and averaged 244.2c and steers over 400kg sold to 262.2c to average 262.2c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 177.2c and averaged 124.8c, heifers 200 - 320kg sold to 178.2c, averaging 152.4c, while heifers 320 - 370kg made 102.2c to average 102.2c.
A pen of steers a/c AG and SA Ryan, made 262.2c and weighed 414kg, returning an average of $1086/head. A good pen of 11 heifers a/c GR Brown, made 178.2c, weighed 251kg and returned an average of $447/head. 27 cows and calves sold on a/c GR Brown returned $860/unit.