Charters Towers combined agents yarded 2021 cattle last Wednesday, consisting of 1210 prime cattle and 811 store cattle. The prime cattle consisted of 146 bullocks, 39 heifers, 883 cows and 142 bulls. Store cattle yarded: 533 steers, 106 mickeys, 150 heifers and 22 cows and calves.
Cattle comprised a very mixed yarding of prime cattle and store cattle. In the prime section there were a few good lines of finished cattle which were met with more competition than the plainer cattle on hand.
The yarding was drawn from Burketown, Normanton, Croydon, Mt Surprise, Georgetown, Einasleigh, Greenvale, Mt Garnet, Collinsville, Tully, Mt Isa, Hughenden as well as local and coastal areas.
Prime quotes: Bullocks were quoted 5-10c dearer, heifers were 10-15c easier, cows were 2-5c dearer and bulls were 2-5c easier on last week's rates.
Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 279c and averaged 208c, and those over 500kg topped at 278c to average 257c. Heifers under 440kg sold to 183c and averaged 171c. Cows under 400kg made 150c and averaged 118c, while cows over 400kg reached 187c, averaging 156c. Bulls under 450kg made 268c and averaged 239c, while bulls over 450kg reached 296c to average 270c.
A pen of six bullocks topped at 278.2c sold on a/c Everingham Pastoral Co, Oak Park Station, Einasleigh that weighed 523kg to return $1455/head. Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c FNT Investments, Majors Creek that sold for 183.2c and weighed 437kg to return $800/head. The top pen of cows was sold by Khartoum Pastoral Co, Tarangie Station, Charters Towers for 187.2c weighing 617kg to return $1155/head. Bulls sold on a/c Northern L/S, Red Hill, Charters Towers topped at 296.2c and weighed 860kg to return $2547/head.
Store Quotes: Store cattle consisted of some good lines of steers and a few good pens of Heifers. Steers suitable for export sold to similar rates as last week with other types selling to mixed markets.
Steers under 200kg reached 268c to average 262c, steers 200 - 320kg sold to 275c, averaging 250c, steers 320 - 400kg topped at 260c and averaged 230c and steers over 400kg sold to 286c to average 255c. Mickeys under 400kg sold to 252c, averaging 245c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 180c and averaged 171c, heifers 200 - 320kg sold to 200c, averaging 175c, heifers 320 - 370kg made 174c to average 157c, while heifers over 370kg reached 192c to average 172c
A pen of steers a/c S, R and B Nelson, Bluff Road, Charters Towers made 275.2c and weighed 278kg, returning $765/head. A good pen of heifers a/c PAW Bucknell, Mount Flagstone, Woodstock made 200c, weighed 220kg returning $440/head. 18 cows and calves sold on a/c A Black, Swans Lagoon, Millaroo returned $1000/unit.
