The Myrtleford Special Autumn Cattle Sale surprised agents and producers with a bumper yarding of quality cattle.
Paull & Scollard Landmark had advertised 1200 head but yarded more than 2000 last Friday.
"The season isn't looking too bad in the area and farmers discovered they had more cattle in better condition so entered the market with extra numbers and added confidence," Paull & Scollard Landmark agent Wade Ivone said.
The highlight of the Myrtleford sale were the 350 to 400 cows and heifers with calves at foot.
"The first lane of heifers and calves made from $2000-$2200 a head, second lane made from $1800-$2000, reflecting the quality that was in the cattle," Mr Ivone said.
"Feedlots were particularly keen buyers of the cows and heifers with calves at foot.
"Well-grown, feedlot-sized black heifers sold very strongly."
The active buyers were attracted from as far away as Sydney and Gippsland.
Mr Ivone said locals were also well represented among the buyers.
"Chopper cows sold very well and savvy local buyers seized the opportunity to sell their older cows and buy in better quality younger cattle," he said.
Weaners made similar prices to those seen recently with the better weaner steers making up to 330 cents a kilogram and the lighter end still reaching 280c/kg.
The sale's 350 cows and calves included Angus heifers from KA & AL McCormack, IBP Myrtleford, A Fitridge, WI & SM Binnie, T & K Taylor, J & B Fraser, Abacole Pty Ltd, S Robertson, R & N Ivone, N & A Vincent, Ashden Livestock, Wild Dog Creek and J Mercer.
Rob Muller, Buckland Valley, sold Hereford and Hereford-cross heifers with Angus and Hereford calves at foot.
Penderscourt, Benambra, sold a collection of Speckle Park, Angus/Shorthorn-cross and Hereford/Shorthorn-cross with calves at foot.
The next Myrtleford sale will be held in October.