Charters Towers combined agents yarded a total of 943 head consisting of 489 prime cattle and 454 store cattle.
The prime cattle consisted of 12 bullocks, 54 heifers, 375 cows and 48 bulls. Store cattle consisted of 242 steers, 210 heifers and two cows and calves.
Prime cattle comprised of very few bullocks with a large run of northern Brahman cows selling to good rates between meat processors and restockers.
The yarding was drawn from Belyando, Ingham, Normanton, Croydon, as well as local and coastal areas.
Prime quotes:
The first sale of the year was off to a good start with prices up on last year's rates.
Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 352.2c and averaged 288.3c, and those over 500kg topped at 355.2c to average 328.2c. Heifers under 440kg sold to 330.2c and averaged 276.6c, while heifers over 440kg topped at 359.2c, averaging 354.2c. Cows under 400kg made 272.2c and averaged 237.6c, while cows over 400kg reached 289.2c, averaging 270.2c. Bulls under 450kg made 370.2c and averaged 266.2c, while bulls over 450kg reached 300.2c to average 289.1c.
Bullocks were in very small consignments as there were only 12 head. One good bullock on a/c D Ellis sold for 355.2c, weighing 520kg to return $1847/hd. Best priced trade heifers were presented on a/c Philipson Holdings, that sold for 359.2c and weighed 458kg to return $1645/hd.
The top pen of cows were sold by Philipson Holdings for 289.2c and weighed 557kg to return $1611/hd. Bulls sold on a/c Elrose Enterprises topped at 300.2c and weighed 610kg, to return $1831/hd.
Store quotes:
Store cattle consisted of good runs of steers and heifers, with a larger run of cattle coming from Normanton.
Steers under 200kg reached 352.2c to average 341.1c, steers 200 - 320kg sold to 366.2c, averaging 337.8c, steers 320 - 400kg topped at 382.2c and averaged 370.1c and steers over 400kg sold to 378.2c to average 378.2c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 258.2c and averaged 204.5c, heifers 200 - 320kg sold to 313.2c, averaging 256.7c, and heifers 320 - 370kg made 305.2c to average 297.9c.
A pen of three steers a/c Penna Holdings made 382.2c and weighed 397kg, to return an average of $1517/hd. A good pen of four heifers on a/c Khartoum Pastoral Co made 308.2c, weighed 288kg returning an average of $888/hd. Two cows and calves sold on a/c R and L Philipson returned $750/unit.