Charters Towers combined agents yarded a total of 2457 cattle on Wednesday, consisting of 1412 prime cattle and 1045 store cattle.
The prime cattle consisted of 354 bullocks, 106 heifers, 640 cows and 312 bulls. Store cattle consisted of 581 steers, 439 heifers, 15x15 cows and calves.
Cattle consisted of isolated pens of local well finished bullocks and cows, with the majority of the yarding being northern cattle showing the effects of the season.
The yarding was drawn from Mt Isa, Normanton, Georgetown, Collinsville, Richmond and local and coastal areas.
Prime quotes:
Bullocks were quoted 10c dearer, heifers were no change, cows were 7c dearer and bulls were 10c easier than last week's rates.
Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 358c and averaged 323c, and those over 500kg topped at 360c to average 341c. Heifers under 440kg sold to 364c and averaged 315c, while heifers over 440kg topped at 322c, averaging 322c. Cows under 400kg made 282c and averaged 232c, while cows over 400kg reached 307c, averaging 272c. Bulls under 450kg made 348c and averaged 264c, while bulls over 450kg reached 342c to average 282c.
Bullocks topped at 358.2c sold on a/c P and L Fryer, Tabletop Stn, that weighed 636kg to return $2227/hd. A pen of trade heifers was presented on a/c B Z Cattle Co, Doongara, that sold for 344c, weighing 383kg to return $1317/hd.
The top pen of cows was sold by Glendarhan Past Co, Ary, for 300c, weighing 465kg to return $1395/hd. Bulls sold on a/c Cargoon Qld Pty Ltd, topped at 342c and weighed 755kg, to return $2583/hd.
Store quotes:
Store cattle were in high demand with strong competition from export, feedlot and restockers seeing the market grow 5-8c across the board.
Steers under 200kg reached 400c to average 398c, steers 200 - 320kg sold to 400c, averaging 331c, steers 320 - 400kg topped at 366c and averaged 352c and steers over 400kg sold to 342c to average 342c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 374c and averaged 306c, heifers 200 - 320kg sold to 370c, averaging 312c, and heifers 320 - 370kg made 336c to average 319c.
A run of 13 steers a/c N J Shephard, Innisfail, made 358c and weighed 352kg, returning an average of $1261/hd. Restock steers a/c GG, D and L Delai, Dimbulha, made 400.2c and weighed 221kg, returning an average of $928.
A good pen of eight heifers a/c Laroona Past Co made 334c, weighed 343kg and returned $1144/hd. 15 cows and calves sold on a/c Obrien Cattle and Land returned $1200/unit.
