Charters Towers combined agents yarded a total of 2853 cattle consisting of 1489 prime cattle and 1364 store cattle.
The prime cattle consisted of 226 bullocks, 84 heifers, 1004 cows and 175 bulls. Store cattle consisted of 924 steers, 438 heifers and two cows and calves.
Cattle comprised a large yarding of mixed cows with the lead of the cows in good condition and selling to better rates.
The yarding was drawn from Bowen, Tully, Collinsville, Cloncurry, Mt Isa, Belyando, Burketown, Georgetown as well as local and coastal areas.
Prime quotes:
Bullocks were quoted 15c easier, heifers were 10c easier, cows were 15c easier and bulls were 10c easier on last week's rates.
Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 284.2c and averaged 201.5c, and those over 500kg topped at 280.2c to average 260.2c. Heifers under 440kg sold to 224.2c and averaged 171c. Cows under 400kg made 203.2c and averaged 131.4c, while cows over 400kg reached 206.2c, averaging 179.1c. Bulls under 450kg made 276.2c and averaged 211.2c, while bulls over 450kg reached 285.2c to average 217.8c.
Bullocks topped at 284.2c for 16 ox sold on a/c Townsville Earthmoving that weighed 456kg to return $1295/hd. Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c A and M Blair, Alligator Creek, that sold for 224.2c and weighed 435kg to return $975/hd.
The top pen of cows were sold by Davide Poli for 206.2c weighing 593kg to return $1212/hd. Bulls sold on a/c Creekwood Beef topped at 285.2c and weighed 760kg to return $2167/hd.
Store quotes:
Store cattle were drawn from Chillagoe, Camooweal, Mt Isa, Burketown, Laura and local areas.
Steers under 200kg reached 290c to average 289.5c, steers 200 - 320kg sold to 308.2c, averaging 239.7c, steers 320 - 400kg topped at 261.2c and averaged 225c and steers over 400kg sold to 247.2c to average 242.4c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 180c and averaged 144.2c, heifers 200 - 320kg sold to 228.2c, averaging 160.7c, heifers 320 - 370kg made 198.2c to average 147.7c, and heifers over 370kg topped at c, averaging c.
A pen of 10 steers a/c NA and VC Douglas made 308.2c and weighed 216kg, returning $666/hd. A good pen of five heifers a/c BW and MI Landsberg, Charters Towers, made 228.2c, weighed 216kg returning $492/hd. There were not enough cows and calves to quote.