HEAVIER steers topped at $900 a head at the Euroa store cattle sale this afternoon.
Agents yarded 1000 head all up, with the rain holding off for most of the auction.
Landmark's Russell Mawson said prices were largely firm.
"Given the quality of the yarding, and the outlook of a strong season ahead, it was a good solid sale," he said.
"The better quality cattle, with extra condition, met stronger demand."
He quoted heavier steers from 193-198 cents a kilogram, while lighter steers made 195-210c/kg.
Rannoch, Merrijig, topped the steer market, clearing 20 Angus, 467kg, at $900 (192c/kg), which were snapped up by commission buyer Peter Tuohey.
The same vendor sold a second pen of 14 Angus, 416kg, which made $825 or 198c/kg.
Mr Tuohey was one of the main buyers on the day, putting together a 170-head haul, including bigger steers for a feedlot in the Riverina, as well as smaller heifers for backgrounders in the same district.
"It was a solid market…not red hot, but not too cheap either," he said.
Other steer results saw Baldwin, Wyuna, make $790 (187c/k) for nine Angus steers, Merridale-blood, while a second pen of 17 Angus, 333kg, made $645 (193c/k).
A pen of 14 Hereford-cross steers, 375kg, also made $720 or 192c/kg, while Oak Valley, Avenel, received $700 for 13 Shorthorn-Hereford steers, 14-15 months.
Deloraine, Beveridge, offloaded 17 yard-weaned Hereford steers, 309kg, 9-10 months, at $610 or 197c/kg, while volume vendor Sleigh Pastoral Co, Ruffy, sold 82 Hereford steers from $545-$660 (205-215c/kg).
In the heifer market, a pen of four Hereford heifers, 535kg, topped at $790, account B&H Ulrich, followed closely by 10 Red Poll heifers, weighing 359kg, which made $695 (193c/kg).
The Red Polls were bought by Jim Renkin, of Lima, who came to Euroa especially to purchase the pen of heifers.
"They are very good mothers and milk well," he said.
"I'll keep my options open, but the plan is to join her to a Charolais bull and sell those calves."
Mr Renkin said he used to run Friesian-Hereford cows, but they had a lot of udder issues.
"These cattle (Red Polls) are hard to find, so I was happy to pay that price for them," he said.
Another good result in the heifer market saw Gibson Park, Shean's Creek, sell 12 Charolais heifers at $690 (191c/kg).
Mr Mawson was pleased with that result, adding that he expected that specific pen to make $640.
Monica and Warren Sheppard, East Five Mile, Sunbury, were also on deck to see their 22 Angus heifers go under the hammer.
Their draft made $395-$490.
The couple, who run about 100 cows, said the cattle had just been weaned.
"It was an alright price…they are still very young," Mr Sheppard said.
Cows and calves topped at $1075 for seven Hereford cows, second calvers, with Charolais calves at foot, redepastured to a Fallsview bull.
A second pen of two cows with CAF did not sell.
Jippo Angus, Ruffy, sold a run of joined cows, including 15 Angus, Connamara-bred, third calvers, at $960, while a second pen of 10 heifers, redepastured to the Connamara bull, made $800.
Competition came from feedlotters, as well as local districts including Shepparton, Pakenham, Kyneton and Kilmore.
