A wide spread of buyers from throughout South West Victoria competed with feedlots and meat processors at Warrnambool's monthly store cattle sale on Friday.
Warrnambool agents' president Kieran Johnstone said strong sale resulted with all types of cattle in receiving good demand.
"It was great sale overall" Mr Johnstone said. "We didn't offer a huge number on the back of January feature weaner sale - 800 penned - but it was adequate for a satisfactory sale"
"Even our light plain cattle sold to good inquiry", Mr Johnstone said.
"We have been reasonably fortune down here in the southwest corner" he said.
Some areas have been lucky enough to fluke thunderstorms of between 25 and 100 millimeters and there is green tinge starting to emerge, he said. It was enough enough for some to begin sowing seed so it was raised confidence levels" he said.
As an example he said grown and weaner steers sold very well in a price range from $2.80, to the top of $3.16 for Angus steers weighed at 356 kilogram.
St Kitts sold 12 Angus steers, 492kg, at 272c/kg or $1338 while a second pen of the same, 444kg, made 273c/kg or $1212 a head.
Kilmorey Partnership sold 24 Angus sreers, 356kg, at 316c/kg or $1124 while Belmont Farms sold 13 Angus, 439kg, at 285c/kg or $1251. A second draft of the Kilmorey Angus steers, 338kg, made 314c/kg or $1061 while a second pens of the Belmont Farms steers, 380kg, made 296c/kg or $1124.
As usual sales unweighed open auction steers were greeted with increased enthusiasm with the prospects of an autumn break likely.
These were sold strongly from $810 to the top of $1000.00 for a pen of Hereford Steers while lighter steers made $690-$810.00.
Heifers also meet solid demand selling from $2.47 to $2.56. Most lighter heifers made $2.42 to $2.50 while open auction heifers made $640-$750
Unjoined F1 heifers sold for $910.
Glynbrae sold the markets best price heifers- a yard of Herefords, 505kg at 253kg or $127 a head.
Glenwood Pastoral Trust sold two yards of Angus, 414kg and 439kg, at 256c/kg for $1059 and $1123 a head respectively while a yard of 16 Green Hills Angus heifers, 358kg, made 259c/kg or $927 a head.
J & J Kelly principal, Jack Kelly said the recent improved demand for good quality, well conditioned heifers was an indication supply numbers were beginning tighten.
"We had buyers from Mt Gambier to Balranald seeking heifers to feed. It was a strong result considering our sale compete for buyers against the big Landmark Ballarat which has also operated on this day for the past 40 years" he said.
Cows and calves reached a top of $1450 while springing F1 heifers made to $1420.00
Springing fourth-calf Angus Cows made to $1300.00 while a dispersal of J. Cameron Murray Grey heifers made $1130-$1300.