Charters Towers combined agents yarded a total of 2351 cattle consisting of 858 prime cattle and 1493 store cattle.
The prime cattle consisted of 145 bullocks, 71 heifers, 477 cows and 165 bulls. Store cattle consisted of 704 steers, 784 heifers and five cow and calf units.
Cattle comprised mixed quality lines, with isolated well-conditioned pens, with the market coming back showing effects of the season and with the absence of one local meat processor.
The yarding was drawn from Hughenden, Mount Isa, Muttaburra, Einasleigh, Mt Garnet and local and coastal areas.
Prime quotes:
Bullocks were quoted 70c easier, heifers were 30c easier, cows were 40c easier and bulls were 40c easier on last week's rates.
Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 270c and averaged 197c, and those over 500kg topped at 262c to average 236c. Heifers under 440kg sold to 233c and averaged 196c, while heifers over 440kg topped at 229c, averaging 221c. Cows under 400kg made 180c and averaged 121c, while cows over 400kg reached 197c, averaging 172c. Bulls under 450kg made 269c and averaged 191c, while bulls over 450kg reached 285c to average 218c.
Bullocks topped at 260c sold on a/c Glendurham Past Co, Ayr, that weighed 677kg to return $1761/hd. Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c Mt Douglas Past Co that sold for 229c and weighed 495kg to return $1134/hd.
The top pen of cows were sold by Devonport Cattle Co, Mount Louisa, for 189c weighing 570kg to return $1078/hd. Bulls sold on a/c Olderfleet Cattle Co, Mt Coolon, topped at 275c and weighed 735kg to return $2021/hd.
Store quotes:
Store cattle consisted of large runs of northern quality cattle, with limited pens of good quality local cattle.
Steers under 200kg reached 316c to average 223c, steers 200 - 320kg sold to 300c, averaging 202c, steers 320 - 400kg topped at 258c and averaged 223c and steers over 400kg sold to 256c to average 251c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 224c and averaged 124c, heifers 200 - 320kg sold to 264c, averaging 170c, and heifers 320 - 370kg made 240c to average 206c.
A pen of six steers a/c M J Easton, Ravenswood, made 316c and weighed 168kg, returning an average of $530/hd. A good pen of six heifers on a/c FW and RA Blacklock made 264c, weighed 323kg returning $854/hd.
Two x two cows and calves sold on a/c of Peter R Parker, Tully, returned $880/unit.
