Charters Towers combined agents yarded a total of 2507 cattle consisting of 1217 prime cattle and 1290 store cattle.
The prime cattle consisted of 125 bullocks, 219 heifers, 797 cows and 76 bulls. Store cattle consisted of 302 steers, 124 mickeys, 833 heifers, 13 vet PTIC cows and 18 cows and calves.
The prime cattle of the sale consisted of mostly meatworks cows that were showing the effects from the dry conditions of the late season. Competition was firm across the board.
The yarding was drawn from Mt Isa, Cloncurry, Laura, Croydon, Georgetown, Einasleigh, Burketown, Ingham, Gumlu as well as local and coastal areas.
Prime quotes:
Bullocks were unchanged, heifers were 5-10c dearer, cows were 2c easier and bulls were unchanged on last week's rates.
Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 350c and averaged 302c, and those over 500kg topped at 340c to average 332c. Heifers under 440kg sold to 342c and averaged 310c, while heifers over 440kg topped at 312c, averaging 298c.
Cows under 400kg made 260c and averaged 205c, while cows over 400kg reached 268c, averaging 246c. Bulls under 450kg made 340c and averaged 298c, while bulls over 450kg reached 338c to average 306c.
Bullocks topped at 340.2c sold on a/c M McClymont, Cloncurry, that weighed 600kg to return $2041/hd. Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c Mt Douglas Pastoral Co, Mt Douglas, Clermont, that sold for 342.2c and weighed 326kg to return $1117/hd.
The top pen of cows was sold by a/c Cameron Hewitt, Hanging Rock, Charters Towers, for 268.2c, weighing 644kg to return $1727/hd. Bulls sold on a/c Elrose Ent., Elrose, Cloncurry, topped at 338.2c and weighed 665kg to return $2249/hd.
Store quotes:
Store cattle were made up of limited lines of steers with most of the yarding consisting of good lines of heifers. Feeder types met with stronger competition while younger cattle were less in demand.
Steers under 200kg reached 398c to average 334c, steers 200 - 320kg sold to 398c, averaging 362c, and steers 320 - 400kg topped at 360c and averaged 338c. Mickeys under 400kg sold to 344c, averaging 323c.
Heifers under 200kg topped at 360c and averaged 319c, heifers 200 - 320kg sold to 374c, averaging 321c, and heifers 320 - 370kg made 344c to average 331c.
A pen of four steers a/c G and J Easton, Sandy Creek, Ravenswood, made 398.2c and weighed 208kg, returning an average of $828/hd. A good line of 117 heifers on a/c Mt Douglas Pastoral Co, Mt Douglas, Clermont, topped at 348.2c to average 345c, weighed 316kg returning an average of $1090/hd. 13 vet PTIC Brangus cows to a Charbray bull on a/c GJ O'Donoghue, Charters Towers, sold for $1360/hd. Six cows and calves sold on a/c M Easton, Sandy Creek, Ravenswood, returned $1230/unit.
