Charters Towers combined agents yarded a total of 2323 cattle consisting of 643 prime cattle and 1680 store cattle. The prime cattle consisted of 125 bullocks, 71 heifers, 359 cows and 88 bulls. Store cattle consisted of 923 steers, 634 heifers, 97 mickey bulls and 26 cows and calves.
Cattle comprised small lines of finished types that sold well with other types reflecting the dry conditions. Competition on all types easing as we approach the Christmas break. The yarding was drawn from Mt Isa, Burketown, Richmond, Hughenden, Mt Surprise, Cloncurry, Proserpine as well as local and coastal areas.
Prime quotes:
Bullocks were quoted 10-12c easier, heifers were 5-10c easier, cows were 5-15c easier and bulls were 5-10c easier on last week's rates.
Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 378c and averaged 350c, and those over 500kg topped at 354c to average 342c. Heifers under 440kg sold to 348c and averaged 236c, while heifers over 440kg topped at 344c, averaging 338c. Cows under 400kg made 286c and averaged 246c, while cows over 400kg reached 286c, averaging 270c. Bulls under 450kg made 360c and averaged 320c, while bulls over 450kg reached 358c to average 310c.
Bullocks topped at 354.2c for three steers sold on a/c P Minuzzo, Charters Towers, that weighed 546.7kg to return $1936/hd. Trade steers sold to 378.2c on a/c RNC Bull, Charters Towers, weighed 475kg to return $1796/hd. Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c LA and PA Thomson, Kallanda, Mt Fox, that sold for 348.2c and weighed 405kg to return $1410/hd. The top pen of cows was sold by Kevin Whiting, Woodstock for 286.2c weighing 530kg to return $1516/hd. Bulls sold on a/c Red Stone Brahmans topped at 358.2c and weighed 470kg to return $1683/hd.
Store quotes:
Store cattle were made up of some good lines of steers and heifers with competition still solid on all types.
Steers under 200kg reached 508c to average 450c, steers 200 - 320kg sold to 428c, averaging 381c, steers 320 - 400kg topped at 391c and averaged 378c and steers over 400kg sold to 378c to average 378c. Mickeys under 400kg sold to 402c, averaging 336c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 394c and averaged 368c, heifers 200 - 320kg sold to 385c, averaging 344c, and heifers 320 - 370kg made 374c to average 365c.
A pen of 30 steers a/c Rocky Springs Project, Rocky Springs, Mt Surprise, made 508.2c and weighed 172kg, returning $874/hd. A pen of 21 heifers a/c Rocky Springs Project, Rocky Springs, Mt Surprise, made 394.2c, weighed 141kg to return $555/hd. A good pen of 16 heifers a/c Lochinvar Grazing, Lochinvar, Brandon, made 374.2c, weighed 337kg returning $1260/hd. Four cows and calves sold on a/c XMS Grazing, Shepari Springs, Hawkens Creek, returned $1900/unit