Cattle values eased slightly at the weekly Charters Towers store and prime sale held on Wednesday where a total 2158 x 5 head were yarded consisting of 919 prime cattle and 1239 store cattle.
The slaughter yarding consisted of 152 bullocks, 30 heifers, 596 cows and 141 bulls, primarily comprised of small lines of mixed quality cattle with the majority being in good condition, and cows making the most of the numbers again.
The yarding was drawn from Pentland, Richmond, Croydon, Mount Isa, Forsayth, Hughenden, Collinsville, Mt Coolon, Balfes Creek and local and coastal areas.
Bullocks were quoted 12c/kg easier, heifers were down 4c easier cows were 5c to 8c easier in comparison the previous sale.
Heifers to 440kg reached 299c to average 267c, while those over 440kg hit 276c to average 264c.
Cows to 400kg made 242c to average 199c, while those over 400kg peaked at 262c to average 234c.
Steers and bullocks to 500kg made 289c to average 257c, and those over 500kg peaked at 290c to average 266c. Bulls over 450kg topped at 260c to average 209c.
Bullocks sold by BJ & JA Collyer, Rosevale, Hughenden topped at 289c to weigh 477kg to return $1379/head, and the top priced trade heifers were sold by Wayne and Kellie Lewis, Sellheim making 293c to weigh 400kg and return $1173.
The top pen of cows were sold by GG & KE Bird for 262c to weigh 570kg and return $1495, while the heaviest bulls yarded on the day were sold by Lawrie Grazing Trust, Powlathanga, Balfes Creek for 260c, weighing 590kg to return $1534.
The feeder yarding consisted of 666 steers, 568 heifers, five cows and 36 calves. The quality of the store cattle yarded was very good with one larger line of heifers consigned from the North West.
Light steers were again over 400c and heifers sold to a top of 356c, feeder weight steers and heifers were in softer demand with one feedlotter not operating and minimal live exporter activity occurring.
Steers to 200kg reached 401c to average 358c, 200-300kg steers made 387c to average 345c, 320-400kg steers hit 338c to average 294c and those over 400kg peaked at 329c to average 316c.
Heifers to 200kg topped at 356c to average 323c, 200-320kg heifers reached 346c to average 323c, 320-370kg heifers hit 300c to average 279c and a lone heifer over 370kg made 318c.
A pen of 16 steers sold by Ball & Co, Rockvale, Julia Creek made 401c and weighed 162kg to return $649, while a line of 101 steers sold by J & K Johnson, Glendale Station, Giru made 365c and weighed 284 to return $1039.
A good pen of nine no-6 heifers sold by Gerash NQ Pty Ltd, New Hidden Valley, Collinsville made 356c to weigh 150kg and return a good average of $534, and a line of 384 mostly no-5 Brahman-cross heifers sold by Lawn Hill and Riversleigh Pastoral Holding Company, Lawn Hill, Mount Isa sold to a top of 348c for the line to average 329c and average 226kg and return $744.
A cow and calf unit sold by BJ & KL Burdell, Alligator Creek returned $1160/unit.