Droughtmaster weaner steers top at 690c at Charters Towers

Cattle comprised mostly cows and bullocks with a few good lines of cows with balance showing effects of drying conditions.

The yarding was drawn from Mt Isa, Burketown, Richmond, Hughenden, Normanton, Georgetown, local and coastal areas.

Bullocks were unchanged, heifers were 5 - 10c dearer with cows being 10c easier and bulls 30c easier on last week's rates.

Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 413c and averaged 361c, and those over 500kg topped at 410c to average 380c. Heifers over 440kg topped at 408c, averaging 360c. Cows under 400kg made 328c and averaged 286c, while cows over 400kg reached 350c, averaging 227c. Bulls 450-600kg made 406c and averaged 314c, while bulls over 600kg reached 370c to average 310c.

Bullocks topped at 410.2c, for 12 ox sold on a/c CSIRO that weighed 579kg, to return $2375.74/hd. Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c H and S McClymont, that sold for 408.2c, weighing 401kg and returned $1635.52/hd. The best pen cows were sold by Lochinvar Grazing for 350.2c, weighed 595kg and returned $2083.69/hd. A good pen of bulls sold on a/c Pedracini Grazing topped at 370c and weighed 600kg to return $2221/hd.

There were 3623 cattle yarded for Friday's store sale, comprising 2115 steers, 442 mickeys, 1009 heifers and 57 cows and calves. Cattle consisted of one large line of northern cattle and several smaller lines of good quality local cattle selling to a strong buyers gallery.

The yarding was drawn from Mt. Isa, Burketown, Georgetown, Mt. Surprise, Mt. Garnet, Collinsville and local areas.

Steers under 200kg reached 690c to average 549c, steers 200 - 320kg sold to 654c, averaging 481c, steers 320 - 400kg topped at 546c and averaged 438c and steers over 400kg sold to 466c to average 400c. Mickeys under 400kg sold to 620c, averaging 473c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 578c and averaged 478c, and heifers 200 - 320kg sold to 510c, averaging 419c.

A pen of 17 steers a/c R and S Kirkwood made 654c and weighed 281kg, returning an average of $1835/hd. A pen of 39 weaner Droughtmaster steers a/c SPK Pastoral made 690c, weighing 171kg to return $1178/hd. A line of 813 Brahman steers a/c Morr Morr Pastoral made 467c, weighed 223kg to return $1044/hd. A good pen of 11 heifers on a/c R and S Kirkwood made 500c weighed 262kg returning $1310/hd. A pen of 17 Brahman heifers sold on a/c BN Young - LG Grazing made 410c weighing 361kg to return $1409/hd. A pen of 38 Droughtmaster weaner heifers a/c SPK Pastoral made 578c weighing 174kg to return $1005/hd. 15 x 14 cows and calves sold on a/c JC Bethel Pty Ltd returned $2125/unit.