A total of 2123 head were yarded at a rain affected Charters Towers weekly store and prime sale held on Wednesday, consisting of 1265 prime cattle and 858 store cattle.
Slaughter lines were comprised of 361 bullocks, 97 heifers, 712 cows and 95 bulls. Cattle included a large line of bullocks and a mixed quality yarding of cows.
The yarding was drawn from Mt. Surprise, Atherton Tablelands, Ingham, Burdekin, Cloncurry, Richmond, Julia Creek, Georgetown, Forsayth, Einasleigh, Townsville, local and coastal areas. Bullocks were quoted 8-10c/kg easier, heifers were down 5-8c and cows dropped 3-5c in comparison to the last sale.
Heifers to 440kg topped at 298c to average 257c, while those over 440kg reached 272c to average 253c.
Cows to 400kg hit 300c to average 206c, while those over 400kg peaked at 257c to average 235c.
Steers and bullocks to 500kg made 307c to average 274c, while those over 500kg topped at 289c to average 278c. Bulls over 450kg reached 266c to average 256c.
Bullocks topped at 307c for eight crossbred bullocks sold by the Rummery Family, Mourilyan, that weighed 473kg to return $1452/head, and the best priced trade heifers were sold by FW and RA Blacklock, Julia Creek which made 279c to weigh 411kg and return $1148.
The top pen of cows were sold by the Jefferis Family, Elrose Enterprises, Cloncurry for 257c to weigh 594kg and return $1529, and bulls sold by John Bethel, Huonfels, Georgetown topped at 263c to weigh 547kg and return $1424.
Feeder lines yarded for the sale consisted of 362 steers, 388 heifers and 108 cows and calves. Store cattle were of very mixed quality with some of the best steers and heifers in North Queensland presented alongside some of the worst cattle available in region at present, all of which sold to good rates in a market that is continuing to strengthen.
Steers to 200kg reached 389c to average 348c, 200-320kg steers topped at 383c to average 323c, 320-400kg steers hit 329c to average 305c and five steers over 400kg averaged 289c.
Heifers to 200kg peaked at 350c to average 292c, 200-320kg heifers made 350c to average 283c, 320-370kg heifers topped at 294c to average 288c and two heifers over 370kg averaged 287c.
A pen of 14 Steers sold by CJ & AK Botton, made 383cg to weigh 204kg and return $780, and a good pen of eight heifers sold by the Piper Family, Harriswood, Jensen made 350c to weigh 206kg and return a good average of $722.
Cows and calves sold by Lauren and Terry Sullivan returned $1410.
