Charters Towers Combined Agents yarded a total of 2237 head on Wednesday, consisting of 522 prime cattle and 1715 store cattle. The prime cattle consisted of 114 bullocks, 59 heifers, 289 cows and 60 bulls. Store cattle consisted of 1276 steers, 375 heifers and 64 cows and calves.
Cattle comprised of fewer lines of finished prime cattle, with covered cattle selling well and also with a large proportion of steers as well as some good lines of store heifers. The yarding was drawn from Karumba, Mt. Isa, Georgetown, Normanton, Cloncurry, Hughenden, local and coastal areas. Bullocks were quoted 4c dearer, heifers were 15c dearer, cows were 10c dearer and bulls were 30c easier, on last week’s rates.
Prime quotes:
Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 302.2c and averaged 273.8c, and those over 500kg topped at 309.2c to average 293.7c. Heifers under 440kg sold to 260.2c and averaged 240.4c, while heifers over 440kg topped at 272.2c, averaging 272.2c. Cows under 400kg made 227.2c and averaged 171.7c, while cows over 400kg reached 243.2c, averaging 226.4. Bulls under 450kg made 290.2c and averaged 235.8c, while bulls over 450kg reached 299.2c to average 249.1c.
A pen of bullocks topped at 300c/kg sold on a/c SPK Grazing that weighed 549kg to return $1646/hd. Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c Nardoo Pastoral Co sold for 251c and weighed 377kg to return $946/hd. The top pen of cows were sold by Sheridan Callcott, for 243c, weighing 538kg to return $1307/hd. Bulls sold on a/c David Jackson & Sons, topped at 299c and weighed 720kg to return $2154 per head.
Store quotes:
Store cattle consisted of a large run of Delta Downs' steers, with a good line of weaners mixed through the sale, as well as a few feedlot and boat weight cattle bringing strong demand.
Steers under 200kg reached 292.2c to average 270.2c, steers 200 – 320kg sold to 296.2c, averaging 273.6c, and steers 320 – 400kg topped at 278.2c and averaged 270.1c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 234.2c and averaged 207.5c, heifers 200 – 320kg sold to 253.2c, averaging 208c, while heifers 320 – 370kg made 264.2c to average 258.4c.
A line of 537 steers a/c Morr Morr Pastoral Co, Delta Downs, averaged 288c for 258kg to return $744/hd. A line of 327 steers from the same vendor made 296c and weighed 243kg, returning an average of $719/hd. A good pen of eight heifers on a/c AC Hyden, made 250c, weighed 281kg and returned an average of $702/hd. 46 cows and calves sold on a/c R. Turner returned $920/unit.
