Charters Towers combined agents yarded 1392 head on March 31, consisting of 718 prime cattle and 674 store cattle.
The prime cattle consisted of 89 bullocks, 93 heifers, 515 cows and 21 bulls. Store cattle consisted of 312 steers, 48 mickeys, 311 heifers and three cows and calves.
Prime cattle consisted of very few finished bullocks and good runs of finished cows that represented 70 per cent of the numbers in the prime section of the sale.
All prime cattle sold to reduced rates except for bulls that sold to similar rates as the previous week.
The yarding was drawn from Mt. Isa, Hughenden, Cardwell, Pentland, Torrens Creek, Ayr, Home Hill, Ravenshoe, Ingham, Paluma and local areas.
Prime quotes:
Bullocks were quoted 5-10c easier, heifers were 10-15c easier, cows were 8-10c easier and bulls were unchanged on the previous week's rates.
Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 382c and averaged 340c, and those over 500kg topped at 334c to average 318c. Heifers up to 540kg topped at 356c, averaging 318c. Cows under 400kg made 260c and averaged 229c, while cows over 400kg reached 272c, averaging 254c. Bulls under 450kg made 466c and averaged 384c, while bulls over 450kg reached 330c to average 294c.
Bullocks topped at 344.2c for 13 ox sold on a/c CP and NA Ferguson, Cardigan, Charters Towers, that weighed 446kg to return $1535/hd. The eight best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c Ashley Smith, Strathroy, Hughenden, that sold for 356.2c and weighed 414kg to return $1474/hd. The top pen of cows was sold by Beco Pastoral, Boonderoo, Hughenden, for 272.2c weighing 541kg to return $1472/hd. Bulls sold on a/c Beco Pastoral, Boonderoo, Hughenden, topped at 318.2c and weighed 550kg to return $1750/hd.
Store quotes:
Store cattle were in reduced numbers due to the Easter break and weaner type feeder steers sold to similar and slightly easier rates than the previous week's sale.
Weaner type heifers sold to dearer rates, while heavier heifers especially in the 200-320kg range were slightly easier in values.
Steers under 200kg reached 456c to average 455c, steers 200 - 320kg sold to 498c, averaging 448c, steers 320 - 400kg topped at 452c and averaged 404c and steers over 400kg sold to 342c to average 322c. Mickeys under 450kg sold to 466c, averaging 384c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 470c and averaged 445c, heifers 200 - 320kg sold to 460c, averaging 389c, and heifers 320 - 370kg made 379c to average 352c.
A pen of 20 steers a/c Barrett and Horsfall, Leichhardt Creek, Home Hill, made 496.2c and weighed 246kg, returning $1221/hd. A good pen of seven heifers a/c D and K Bolton, Artlenne, Woodstock, made 470.2c, weighed 153kg returning $719/hd. Three cows and calves averaged $800/unit
