Charters Towers combined agents yarded a total of 2120 head on Wednesday. Cattle consisted of 1083 prime cattle and 1037 store cattle. The prime cattle consisted of 329 bullocks, 75 heifers, 491 cows and 188 bulls. Store cattle consisted of 444 steers, 585 heifers and eight cows and calves. Cattle were predominantly smaller lines of bullocks and cows and again a large yarding of bulls.
The yarding was drawn from Katherine, Mt Surprise, Georgetown, Forsayth, Einasleigh, Normanton, Hughenden, Belyando, Torrens Creek, Pentland, Bowen, Ingham, Tully, Laura, Richmond as well as local and coastal areas.
Prime quotes:
Heavy bullocks were 5c easier, heifers were 5c easier, cows were 5c easier, and bulls 2-3c dearer compared to the previous week's rates.
Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 302.2c and averaged 243.7c, and those over 500kg topped at 314.2c to average 283c. Heifers under 440kg sold to 239.2c and averaged 213.3c, while heifers over 440kg topped at 280.2c, averaging 226c. Cows under 400kg made 190c and averaged 136.9c, while cows over 400kg reached 221.2c, averaging 191.2c. Bulls under 450kg made 290c and averaged 234.9c, while bulls over 450kg reached 301.2c to average 266c.
Mt Douglas Pastoral Co, Belyando, sold three bullocks for 314.2c, weighing 633kg to return $1989/hd.
Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c EJT and KL Camp, for a pen of 19 heifers that sold for 237.2c and weighed 362kg to return $859/hd. One standout heifer a/c BL and DM Cowie sold for 280.2c weighing 600kg to return $1681/hd.
The top pen of cows were sold by James Cook University, Fletcherview, for 221.2c and weighed 570kg to return $1260/hd. Bulls sold on a/c CA, TA and JL Skinner, topped at 301.2c and weighed 667kg, to return $2009/hd.
Store quotes:
Store cattle consisted of smaller lines that are starting to show effects of the season. The better quality end of cattle held their value while the lesser quality sold to cheaper rates.
Steers under 200kg reached 262.2c to average 234.3c, steers 200 - 320kg sold to 271.2c, averaging 228.7c, steers 320 - 400kg topped at 274.2c and averaged 232.4c and steers over 400kg sold to 291.2c to average 291.2c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 162.2c and averaged 152.2c, heifers 200 - 320kg sold to 179.2c, averaging 142.8c, heifers 320 - 370kg made 228.2c to average 202.2c, and heifers over 370kg topped at 180c, averaging 165.8c.
A pen of 31 steers a/c Khartoum Pastoral made 270.2c and weighed 249kg, to return an average of $673/hd. A good pen of 13 heifers on a/c Cunningham Cattle Co made 228.2c, weighed 344kg returning an average of $785/hd. One cow and calf sold on a/c Brad Kirkman returned $640/unit.