HEAVY steers were in demand at the Colac store sale on Friday, reaching 304 cents a kilogram.
However lighter steers did not attract the same high level of demand seen over the past few weeks.
Colac Stock Agents Association president, Carl Fish, said agents penned about 1600 head, plus cows and calves, which was much larger than initially anticipated.
"We only advertised for about 1000 head, so the larger numbers were probably a reaction to the recent high prices, and the ordinary season too," Mr Fish said.
He quoted heavy steers, 450kg-plus, from 280-304c/kg.
"We had a lot of heavier cattle in, which sold better than our last sale," he said.
"But once the weights dropped off, those lighter cattle from 270-330kg were about 10-20c/kg cheaper from 225-250c/kg.
"That's not a disaster though; the prices were still very solid."
Buyers included Thomas Foods International (TFI), Robert Woodward for the Garrison feedlot, Teys for the Jindalee, NSW and Charlton feedlots, as well as Hopkins River. Local restockers competed on the lighter cattle.
The other difference at this sale was the lack of bigger lines of cattle, with several smaller lots sold on the day.
"There were quite a few light cattle too," Mr Fish said.
The top-priced pen of steers at $1540 was sold by J McIntyre for seven grown Angus, 542kg, 22-24 months. These made a live weight equivalent of 284c/kg.
However, J Drago, Lavers Hill, returned a higher cents-per-kilogram rate at 304c/kg for a pen of 14 Angus steers, 16-18 months, 480kg, which was snapped up on a bid of $1460 from TFI. A second pen from the same vendor made $1440 or 271c/kg for 14 Angus steers, 531kg.
Other results in the heavier lanes saw Tolemac, Kennedy's Creek, offload 20 Angus steers, 482kg, 18-20 months, at $1450 or 300c/kg, while MB&MJ Patterson, Simpson, sold 11 Angus-Simmental steers, 471kg, at $1420 or 301c/kg, while a single Angus-Droughtmaster steer made to $1540 and four other steers from the same vendor realised $1330.
Anam Cara, Jellibrand, also fared well, with 15 Charolais-Angus steers, 493kg, 16-18 months, at $1460 or 296c/kg.
Woodrowvale Pastoral Co, Colac, also saw plenty of demand for its run of Charolais and steers and heifers. Altogether, owner Michael Stewart, who is the managing director of Charles Stewart, and his wife Kylie, sold about 96 head.
Their steers sold from $990-$1300, while their heifers sold from $680 to the highest price on the day for heifers at $990.
Agent Terry Dove, Charles Stewart Dove, was representing the line, and said the cattle sold above expectations.
"They met extreme demand," he said.
Scott Pelchen, Modewarre, was also on hand at Colac, and was able to find value in buying a pen of 22 Angus steers at $645.
"To buy black steers under $650 is pretty good value," Matt Nelson, Charles Stewart, said - who bought the steers on behalf of Mr Pelchen.
Mr Pelchen, who trades cattle, said he had just sold cows and calves, and needed to replace them.
"I'll grow them out about 500kg," he said.
Other sales in the heifer lanes saw M&A Edgar clear eight Angus, 401kg, 20 months, at $830, while Jarorieka sold 13 Angus heifers, 346kg, 8-9 months, at $890.
There was only a limited offering of cows and calves, which topped at $1360 on a pen of seven Angus second-calving cows, with March-April-drop calves at-foot, Te Mania-blood, account A&T Young.