An important lift in quality has delivered a stark rise in prices for store cattle sold at Echuca on Monday.
With more beef-bred types and few dairy stock included in the 940-head yarding, prices were said to be $150-$200 a head higher for steers and heifers, and $200-$300 stronger for joined females and cow and calf outfits.
Lachie Collins, Landmark, said extra competition enlisted from several local restockers, some exiting the dairy industry, proved more than helpful on a full range of lighter cattle.
Mr Collins said feedlots and processors were also prominent on the heavier-grown cattle which saw most of the joined females absorbed for processing.
On these instances and especially on small black heifers, prices were easily $200 higher, he said.
Matt O'Connor, Elders, agreed but said the improved prices did come off a very low basis.
"Our previous market, like many elsewhere, was very tough, but now with the weather into autumn there is some hope some much-needed rain could be on the way," Mr O'Connor said.
He said there was an absence of dairy types through this month's yarding, because recent prices had been so poor.
Reporting agents quoted best types of feeder steers, offering weight, sold from 280-290 cents a kilogram, with top-end sales nearing $1100.
Morabbie Pastoral, Deniliquin, NSW, sold Angus steers, 365kg, to $1050, while Pasadena, Moama, NSW, sold Speckle Park steers, 395kg, to $1140.
Lighter steers, in plain condition, were in good numbers throughout the penning.
These were sold strongly in the $400-$480 price bracket, most of which were estimated at 180-240kg liveweight.
Heifers, with weight and condition, also met steady inquiry from local and regional feeders, with most sold between 220-250c/kg.
Most sales of joined females were made between $700-$800, with a pregnancy-tested-in-calf pen of Santa heifers topping the breeder section at $1100.
Cow and calf numbers were small, the agents said.