Charters Towers combined agents yarded a total of 3175 cattle on Wednesday consisting of 1106 prime cattle and 2069 store cattle.
The prime cattle consisted of 218 bullocks, 203 heifers, 548 cows and 137 bulls. Store cattle consisted of 947 steers, 1068 heifers and 54 cows and calves.
Prime cattle consisted of both good lines of finished steers and bullocks along with increased numbers of heifers yarded which sold to a sparse gallery of buyers to cheaper rates.
The yarding was drawn from Cloncurry, Julia Creek, Richmond, Hughenden, Mareeba, Murray Upper, Ingham, Georgetown, Forsayth, Einasleigh, Malanda, Mt Garnet, Pentland, Home Hill, Gumlu, Mitchilba, Utchee Creek as well as local and coastal areas.
Prime quotes:
Bullocks were quoted 18-33c easier, heifers were 19-30c easier, cows were 10-15c easier and bulls were 13-18c easier on last week's rates.
Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 298.2c and averaged 257.6c, and those over 500kg topped at 312.2c to average 287.2c. Heifers under 440kg sold to 285c and averaged 238.5c, while heifers over 440kg topped at 270.2c, averaging 268.3c. Cows under 400kg made 224.2c and averaged 167.6c, while cows over 400kg reached 282.2c, averaging 216.7c. Bulls under 450kg made 298.2c and averaged 282.3c, while bulls over 450kg reached 311.2c to average 289.6c.
Bullocks topped at 312.2c/kg sold on a/c Mickan Pastoral Co., Torryburn, Richmond, that weighed 580kg to return $1810/hd.
Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c PL Corfield, Mena Creek, that sold for 285c and weighed 406kg to return $1155/hd.
The top pen of cows were sold by CC and T Archer, Elston Hills, Charters Towers, for 282.2c weighing 520kg to return $1467/hd.
Bulls sold on a/c Tim Pratt, Julia Creek, topped at 308.2c and weighed 735kg to return $2265/hd.
Store quotes:
Store cattle were in plentiful supply and the overall quality was good. The 947 feeder steers, 1068 feeder heifers and 54 cows and calves sold to an easier market.
Steers under 200kg reached 348c to average 298c, steers 200 - 320kg sold to 332c, averaging 288c, steers 320 - 400kg topped at 340c and averaged 305c and steers over 400kg sold to 270c to average 270c. Mickeys under 450kg sold to 298c, averaging 280c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 269c and averaged 229c, heifers 200 - 320kg sold to 268c, averaging 222c, and heifers 320 - 370kg made 274c to average 230c.
A pen of steers a/c M and N Jones, Milestone, Charters Towers, made 348.2c and weighed 195kg, returning $679/hd.
A good pen of crossbred heifers a/c St Claire Livestock, Glenrowan, Hughenden, made 274.2c, weighed 333kg, returning $912/hd.
Three cows and calves sold on a/c Groper Creek Enterprises, Groper Creek, returned $900/unit.
