Charters Towers combined agents yarded a total of 3742 head on Wednesday, consisting of 2086 prime cattle and 1656 store cattle.
The prime cattle consisted of 6119 bullocks, 101 heifers, 1616 cows and 250 bulls. Store cattle consisted of 987 steers, 669 heifers, and 43 cows and calves.
Cattle comprised a large run of well finished cows and a mixed yarding of store cattle varying in quality.
The yarding was drawn from Croydon, Dimbulah, Mt Garnett, Greenvale, Ingham, Einasleigh, Georgetown, Burketown, Belyando, Hughenden, Richmond, Julia Creek and Mt Surprise.
Bullocks were quoted 10-20c dearer, heifers were 5c dearer, cows were 5-25c and bulls were 15c on last week's rates.
Prime quotes:
Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 335.2c and averaged 291.3c, and those over 500kg topped at 336.2c to average 320.6c. Heifers under 440kg sold to 290.2c and averaged 259.2c, while heifers over 440kg topped at 294.2c, averaging 279.2c. Cows under 400kg made 256.2c and averaged 211.6c, while cows over 400kg reached 272.2c, averaging 248.1c. Bulls under 450kg made 329.2c and averaged 272.7c, while bulls over 450kg reached 338.2c to average 299.6c.
Bullocks topped at 336.2c for $1805 sold on a/c TVE and M Hoffman. A pen of nine steers, a/c K Anning made 330.2c for 572kg to return $1889.48/hd.
Best priced heifers were presented on a/c Mt Douglas Pastoral Company that sold for 294.2c and weighed 530kg to return $1559.26/hd. The top pen of cows were sold by Mt Douglas Pastoral Company for 269.2c, weighing 617kg to return $1660.07/hd.
A pen of 14 cows a/c TVE and MR Hoffman sold for 270.2c, weighing 566kg to return $1528.56/hd. Bulls sold on a/c EW and CM Entriken topped at 337.2c and weighed 668kg to return $2251.75p/hd.
Store quotes:
There were smaller lines of quality store cattle available which reflected on the rates, with better quality stores attracting spirited bidding.
Steers under 200kg reached 360c to average 340.5c, steers 200 - 320kg sold to 364.2c, averaging 307.2c, steers 320 - 400kg topped at 332.2c and averaged 293.3c and steers over 400kg sold to 334.2c to average 319.8c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 284.2c and averaged 265.7c, heifers 200 - 320kg sold to 305c, averaging 262c, heifers 320 - 370kg made 280c to average 245.5c, and heifers over 370kg topped at 310c, averaging 260.7c.
A pen of 36 steers a/c SPK Pastoral, Mt. Garnet, made 364.2c and weighed 265kg, returning an average of $965.13/hd. A good pen of 19 heifers on a/c St Elmo Pastoral Company, made 305c, weighed 238kg and returned an average of $725.90/hd. A pen of 66 x 64 cows and calves sold on a/c TVE and MR Hoffman returned $1440/unit.