Charters Towers agents yarded a total of 1502 head on Wednesday, consisting of 475 prime cattle and 1027 store cattle. Prime cattle consisted of 78 bullocks, 46 heifers, 318 cows and 58 bulls. Store cattle consisted of 463 steers, 204 mickeys, 302 heifers and 33 cows and calves.
The yarding was drawn from Burketown, Mt Coolon, Mt Isa, Torrens Ck, Croydon, Burketown, Normanton, Mourilyan, Mt Garnet local and coastal areas.
Prime quotes: Bullocks were quoted 10-20c easier, heifers were up to 30c dearer, cows were 5-12c dearer and bulls were 5-10c easier on last week's rates.
Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 283.2c and averaged 217.5c, and those over 500kg topped at 288.2c to average 264.8c. Heifers under 440kg sold to 244.2c and averaged 210.8c, while heifers over 440kg topped at 244.2c, averaging 244.2c. Cows under 400kg made 162.2c and averaged 92c, while cows over 400kg reached 209.2c, averaging 172.2c. Bulls under 450kg made 276.2c and averaged 224.6c, while bulls over 450kg reached 282.2c to average 243.5c.
Bullocks topped at 288.2c for one ox sold on a/c Colin Cappler that weighed 530kg to return $1571.83/head. A pen of five bullocks a/c Pemble Investments sold for 270.2c weighed 530kg to return $1432.06/head.
Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c Colin Cappler who sold two heifers for 244.2c and weighed 460kg to return $1123.32/head. A pen of 14 heifers a/c Pemble Investments sold for 231.2c weighed in at 399kg to return $922.70.
The top pen of six cows was sold by WTW Rice for 209.2c, weighing 582kg to return $1216.85/head. A pen of 14 cows a/c Olderfleet Cattle sold for 194.2c weighed in at 479kg to return $930.22
Bulls sold on a/c R Colls, Gumlu, topped at 281.2c and weighed 840kg to return $2362.08/head. A pen of 28 feeder weight bulls were presented on a/c I and M Campbell Mt Isa made 275.2c weighed 304kg to return $836.61/hd.
Store quotes: Steers were easier by 15c with numbers significantly back on the previous week. Steers under 200kg reached 258.2c to average 254c, steers 200 - 320kg sold to 263.2c, averaging 243.5c, steers 320 - 400kg topped at 259.2c and averaged 238.2c and steers over 400kg sold to 259.2c to average 256.8c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 190c and averaged 178.2c, heifers 200 - 320kg sold to 200.2c, averaging 144.1c, and heifers 320 - 370kg made 168.2c to average 138c.
A pen of 20 steers a/c DR and K Bolton made 263.2c, returning an average of $610.62/head. Good export spec feeder steers made around 260c.
A good pen of 16 heifers on a/c Heslin and Sons, made 200.2c, weighed 227kg returning $454.45/head. A good pen of 11 of cows and calves a/c Obrien Cattle Co sold to $1160/unit.