Charters Towers Combined Agents yarded a total of 995 cattle on Wednesday, consisting of 272 prime cattle and 723 store cattle. The prime cattle consisted of 51 bullocks, nine heifers, 186 cows and 26 bulls. The store cattle consisted of 453 steers, 128 heifers and 142 cows and calves.
Cattle comprised smaller yarding of prime cattle, with the majority penned good quality and condition. The yarding was drawn from Ingham, Tully, Mt Surprise, Georgetown, Burketown, Collinsville, Charters Towers and coastal areas. Bullocks were quoted 8c/kg easier, heifers were 10c dearer, cows were firm and bulls were firm on last week's rates.
PRIME QUOTES:
Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 259c and averaged 240c, and those over 500kg topped at 251c to average 235c. Heifers under 440kg sold to 220c and averaged 206c, while heifers over 440kg topped at 178c, averaging 175c. Cows under 400kg made 142c and averaged 121c, while cows over 400kg reached 183c, averaging 154c. Bulls under 450kg made 282c and averaged 257c, while bulls over 450kg reached 294c to average 239c.
Bullocks topped at 257c sold on a/c M Stanger and K Gilligan, Tomato Springs, Mingela that weighed 580kg to return $1491/hd. Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c M Stanger and K Gilligan, Tomato Springs, Mingela that sold for 220 and weighed 398kg to return $876/hd. The top pen of cows were sold by Sibson Farming Co, Inkermann for 183.2c, weighing 560kg to return $1025/hd. Bulls sold on a/c Lennox Family Partners, Homestead topped at 294c and weighed 610kg to return $1794/hd.
STORE QUOTES:
Store cattle comprised of one major line of good quality steers. The balance of the cattle presented were small lines, with no major runs of heifers. Steers under 200kg reached 266c to average 250c, steers 200 - 320kg sold to 287c, averaging 274c, steers 320 - 400kg topped at 269c and averaged 252c and steers over 400kg sold to 248c to average 240c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 152c and averaged 152c, heifers 200 - 320kg sold to 180c, averaging 161c, heifers 320 - 370kg made 157c to average 138c, while heifers over 370kg made 192c and averaged 180c.
A line of 232 no.8 and 9 very good quality grey Brahman steers sold a/c Burlington Cattle Co, Mt Surprise topped the sale at 287c, with the line averaging 278c, 251kg and $698/hd. A good pen of eight heifers a/c L and K Rural Contracting, Georgetown made 192c, weighed 387kg returning $744/hd. Several small lines of cows and calves sold in a range from $550 to $610/unit.