Prices for good quality steers at Bairnsdale lifted by around $100.

Elders Morgan Davies said cattle with weight sold well, to strong competition from south and central Gippsland buyers.

“Those guys are probably getting pretty good results with their bullocks, so they are putting them back,” Mr Davies said.

“The better steers were making 270-280 cents/kilogram, the well bred lighter cattle were making 320c/kg,” he said.

Heifers made around 250c/kg.

“It’s okay, it’s alright, its gettable, the problem is there is not a lot of weight in the cattle,” he said.

Sharp Fullgrabe’s Mick O’Callaghan said older cattle appeared to be a bit softer.

“Other than that, the whole sale went really well,” Mr O’Callaghan said.

“The steers went up to 365c/kg for one pen of well bred pen, out of Omeo.”

He said there was feedlot competition, with some cattle going back into the local area.

“I think it was $100 dearer in spots, but cows and calves were a bit of a shock.

“They could have been a couple of hundreds of dollars dearer.

“A cow and calf takes a lot to feed – but an inch of rain has given people a bit of confidence, and they are buying on a chance.”

Benambra’s Donald Betts brought down a draft of 66 Hereford steers and heifers, which he said he had turned off early, to save grass for his cows and calves.

A pen of  his 15 Yarram Park/Karoonda/Malton blood steers, averaging 307kg, sold for $1070, or 348c/kg.

Hurley Family Angus sold 13, 351kg Millah Murrah and Banquet blood, March drop steers for $980, or 279c/kg.

A pen of 13 from the same breeding, weighing 228kg, sold for $800, or 350c/kg.

Livingstone Partnership sold 21 Angus steers, averaging 283kg, for $860, or 303c/kg.

Mr Betts also sold 20 Hereford heifers, averaging 276kg, for $690, or 250c/kg.

Hurley Family Angus sold 16 Millah Murrah/Banquet Angus heifers, averaging 274kg, for $700, or 255c/kg.

SR and MC Beasley offered 28 Irelands and Yancowinna blood Angus heifers, averaging 352kg, which sold for $960, or 272c/kg.

Cows and calves sold to $1290.