Charters Towers Combined Agents yarded 1514 head, consisting of 982 prime cattle and 532 store cattle. The prime cattle consisted of 124 bullocks, 79 heifers, 626 cows and 153 bulls. Store cattle consisted of 250 steers, 210 heifers and 72 cows and calves. Cattle comprised some good quality prime bullocks and prime cows that sold well while plainer cows were met with reduced competition. The yarding was drawn from Croydon, Chillagoe, Georgetown, Collinsville, Clermont as well as local and coastal areas.
Prime quotes:
Heavy bullocks were quoted as 5-8c dearer, heifers were 2-4c easier, better cows were unchanged, lighter cows were 5-8c easier, and bulls were 1-2c dearer compared to last week's rates.
Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 260c/kg and averaged 238.8c, and those over 500kg topped at 271.2c to average 260.7c. Heifers under 440kg sold to 230c and averaged 181.6c, while heifers over 440kg topped at 227.2c, averaging 207.5c. Cows under 400kg made 136.2c and averaged 94.1c, while cows over 400kg reached 185.2c, averaging 162.5c. Bulls under 450kg made 260.2c and averaged 244c, while bulls over 450kg reached 289.2c to average 241.2c.
A line of 73 bullocks topped at 271.2c to average 266c, sold on a/c Davide Poli Pty Ltd, Home Hill, that weighed 579kg to return $1571/hd. Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c Mt McConnel Grazing, that sold for 223.2c and weighed 435kg to return $971/hd. The top pen of cows were sold by Mt McConnel Grazing, for 185.2c and weighed 583kg to return $1080/hd. Bulls sold on a/c Laroona Pastoral Co topped at 289.2c and weighed 820kg, to return $2371/hd.
Store quotes:
Store cattle comprised smaller lines of good quality cattle that sold to a similar market to previous weeks while single lots or plainer cattle suffered.
Steers under 200kg reached 292.2c to average 236.1c, steers 200 - 320kg sold to 261.2c, averaging 249.4c, steers 320 - 400kg topped at 268.21c and averaged 234.7c and steers over 400kg sold to 260c to average 260c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 171.2c and averaged 164.7c, heifers 200 - 320kg sold to 190c, averaging 151.5c, heifers 320 - 370kg made 190c to average 178c, and heifers over 370kg topped at 209.2c, averaging 194.3c.
A run of 45 steers a/c Fleetwood Grazing averaged 230.4kg at 258.9c to return an average of $595/hd. A pen of 11 steers a/c PM and AL Finge, topped the sale at 260c, weighing 500kg, returning an average of $1300/hd. A good pen of five heifers a/c Amberkolly Grazing made 209.2c, weighed 378kg and returned an average of $791/hd. Two cows and calves sold on a/c R and S Kirkwood returned $880/unit.