Charters Towers combined agents yarded a total of 1107 cattle on Wednesday, consisting of 537 prime cattle and 570 store cattle. The prime cattle consisted of 154 bullocks, 34 heifers, 279 cows and 70 bulls. The store cattle consisted of 356 steers, 198 heifers and 16 x 16 cows and calves.
Cattle comprised a wide and varied yarding, with many lots mixed quality and condition. There were some isolated pens of good quality cattle. The yarding was drawn from Croydon, Cloncurry, Mt Garnet, Collinsville, Mt Surprise, Hughenden, local and coastal areas. Bullocks were quoted unchanged, heifers were unchanged, cows were 5-10c dearer and bulls unchanged on last week's rates.
Prime quotes:
Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 286c and averaged 254c, and those over 500kg topped at 289c to average 268c. Heifers under 440kg sold to 225c and averaged 199c, while heifers over 440kg topped at 236c, averaging 218c. Cows under 400kg made 170c and averaged 108c, while cows over 400kg reached 231c, averaging 187c. Bulls under 450kg made 282c and averaged 248c, while bulls over 450kg reached 288c to average 270c.
Bullocks topped at 289c sold on a/c HT and E Lavery, Springvale Stn, Charters Towers, that weighed 583kg to return $1684/hd. Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c R and L Braes, Haven Downs, Winton, that sold for 231c and weighed 520kg to return $1202/hd.
The top pen of cows were sold by A Steadman, Hughenden, for 204c, weighing 543kg to return $1109/hd. Bulls sold on a/c R and L Braes, Haven Downs, Winton, topped at 285c, weighed 700kg to return $2139/hd.
Store quotes:
Store cattle presented consisted of some lines of very good quality cattle which sold to spirited bidding. The balance of the yarding was of mixed quality and condition and sold accordingly.
Steers under 200kg reached 279c to average 242c, steers
200 - 320kg sold to 290c, averaging 265c, steers 320 - 400kg topped at 275c and averaged 250c and steers over 400kg sold to 270c to average 265c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 270c and averaged 212c, heifers 200 - 320kg sold to 202c, averaging 155c, heifers 320 - 370kg made 210c to average 200c, and heifers over 370kg topped at 218c, averaging 207c.
A pen of nine steers a/c JH and L Smith, Woodstock, made 290c and weighed 258kg, returning an average of $748/hd. 72 very good quality grey Brahman heifers a/c MG and HJ Bredden, Lakeview, Charters Towers, made 230c, weighed 186kg returning $428/hd. Small lots of heifers sold to top the sale at 270c. Small lots of cows and calves sold from $700-$800/hd.
