PRIME SALE
Charters Towers combined agents yarded 2327 cattle at their prime cattle sale on Wednesday, consisting of 695 bullocks, 581 heifers, 878 cows and 173 bulls.
The sale was a prime sale only with lines of plainer condition bullocks yarded with few well-finished bullocks. Prime heifers and cows dominated the yarding.
Cattle were drawn from Burketown, Mt Isa, McKinlay, Mt Surprise, Cloncurry, Nonda, Clermont, Forsayth, Georgetown, Greenvale, Einasleigh, local and coastal areas.
Bullocks were quoted 5-10c easier, heifers were 6-10c easier and cows were 5-8c easier on last sale's rates.
Steers and bullocks under 500kg sold to 400c and averaged 368c, and those over 500kg topped at 368c to average 358c. Heifers under 440kg sold to 366c and averaged 322c. Cows under 400kg made 290c and averaged 257c, while cows over 400kg reached 302c, averaging 280c. Bulls under 450kg made 382c and averaged 358c, while bulls over 450kg reached 362c to average 332c.
Bullocks topped at 366.2c for 17 bullocks sold on a/c P and L Fryer, Tabletop, Herveys Range, that weighed 548kg to return $2018/hd. A pen of 20 trade steers a/c Pedracini Grazing, Scartwater, Charters Towers, sold for 398.2c and weighed 348kg to return $1385/hd. A line of trade heifers presented on a/c Pedracini Grazing, Scartwater, Charters Towers, sold to 350c to average 336c and weighed 370kg to return $1239/hd.
A pen of 11 heifers a/c M and S Masters, Ingham, sold for 340c to average 464kg and return $1576/hd. The top pen of cows was sold by Brown and Sons, Beenfield, McKinlay, for 296.2c and weighed 496kg to return $1470/hd. 11 bulls sold on a/c Callcott Investments, Glenmore, Einasleigh, topped at 342.2c and weighed 663kg to return $2267/hd. Bulls sold on a/c Pedracini Grazing, Scartwater, Charters Towers, sold to 362.2c, weighed 380kg and returned $1376/hd.
STORE SALE
Charters Towers agents yarded 2379 cattle at Friday's store sale,consisting of 820 steers, 510 mickeys, 881 heifers, 121 cows and 47 cows and calves.
Cattle consisted of good quality lines of mostly Brahman and Brahman cross cattle with few crossbred types yarded. The market eased slightly on less quality types and was solid and consistent throughout the sale on better quality cattle.
The yarding was drawn from Burketown, Normanton, Georgetown, Mt Garnet, Einasleigh, Mt Surprise, Malanda, Tully, Ingham, local and coastal areas.
Steers under 200kg reached 504c to average 492c, steers 200 - 320kg sold to 548c, averaging 466c, steers 320 - 400kg topped at 456c and averaged 410c and steers over 400kg sold to 426c to average 404c. Mickeys under 400kg sold to 536c, averaging 445c. Heifers under 200kg topped at 412c and averaged 399c, heifers 200 - 320kg sold to 440c, averaging 387c, and heifers 320 - 370kg made 392c to average 383c.
A pen of 14 steers A/c KJ and MM Taylor, Ooralat, Mt Surprise, made 526.2c and weighed 196kg, returning an average of $1031/hd. Camm Pastoral Company, Walhalla, Malanda, sold a line of 34 Brahman cross steers for 462.2c that weighed an average of 264kg and returned $1220/hd. A pen of 13 Mickey bulls A/c EST and KL Camp, Floraville, Burketown, made 534c to weigh 166kg, returning $866/hd.
A good pen of 26 crossbred heifers on a/c Greengrass, Bluff Downs, Charters Towers, made 480.2c and weighed 175kg, returning an average of $840/hd. A good line of 120 Brahman cross cows a/c Simmons Family Partnership, Haydon, Normanton sold to 280.2c to average 268.3c and average 357.5kg and return $959./hd 18 x 18 cows and calves sold on a/c HL and JA Maxwell, Broughton River Downs, Charters Towers, returned $2350/per unit.