Dalrymple Saleyards. Image: Charters Towers Regional Council.

Yarding 3234 Change -291

Charters Towers Combined Agents penned 3234 cattle, 291 less than last sale. Quality was again mixed, comprising of over 900 bullocks and grown steers, supported by some good pens of heavy cows and several mixed lines of young cattle. The buyer panel was reduced to regular processors, feeders, restockers and one live exporter. Cattle were drawn from Mt Isa to Georgetown and south The Burdekin, local and coastal areas.

Good quality young steers met solid demand from backgrounders and feeder buyers were competitive throughout lifting values by 8c to 30c on last sale. Heavy yearling steers and heifers to feed improved 7c to 20c, grown steers to processors lifted 7c to 14c, grown heifers lifted 17c, heavy prime cows improved 5c to 8c/kg.

Good quality weaned vealer steers to restockers averaged 363c to 433c, selling to 470c multiple times. A small sample of restocker heifers averaged 354c/kg. Yearling steers above 330kg to feed reached 462c, averaging 422c/kg, while steers above 400kg to feed reached 450c to average 425c to 442c/kg. Heavy yearling heifers to feed sold to 398c to average 387c/kg. Prime grown steers above 400kg to feed made to 412c to average 363c, trade types averaged 388c/kg. Steers above 500kg to processors sold to 412c to average 405c/kg. Prime grown heifers to processors sold from 306c to 384c/kg.

An increased supply of heavy young bullocks to export slaughter topped at 416c to average 407c. One bullock donated to RFDS made 460c/kg to return $3036. Full mouthed bullocks averaged 397c/kg. Medium weight 3 score cows averaged 335c to 345c selling to 350c/kg. A good offering of prime heavyweight cows topped at 372c, averaging 354c to 362c/kg. Heavy bulls to processors sold to 376c/kg.

Market Reporter: Mick Kingham

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