A committed group of feedlotters set the pace for the monthly Western Victorian Livestock Exchange store cattle sale with prices jumping accordingly.
The sale rise reflected the trend of recent prime sales where prices have been on on the rise.
The first wing of 11 lines of cattle weighing between 359 and 508 kilograms sold from 346-355 cents a kilogram liveweight.
The second wing hardly faltered with all but one pen selling from 344-354c/kg.
There was little variety in the buyers with feedlotters including Princess Royal, Teys, Hopkins River, Creek Livestock and Thomas Foods International taking the bulk of these lots.
WVLX associated agents president Glenn Judd said there was strong demand from processors, feedlotters, restockers and locals who pushed prices to new highs.
"We also had great support from local and wider Victorian agencies, all indicating that the overall yarding of around 1400 was exceptional in terms of quality and breed," he said.
Mr Judd said there was a notable rise in the market for grown steers which jumped 40c/kg compared to the June store sale.
There was also a rise of 40c/kg for weighed weaner steers compared to last month, with the tops fetching 352/kg.
Mr Judd said grass heifers increased by 20c/kg, selling at 320c/kg and weighed weaner heifers sold at 318c/kg, also a rise of 20c/kg.
The open auction steers topped at $920 a head, up by $100 on June's store sale, while open auction heifers made $600-$700, or a rise of $80-$100.
There was plenty of competition for a small offering of cows and calves, topping at $1780, a significant increase of $300 a unit.
The market top of 355c/kg was achieved on three lines including 15 Angus steers sold by Graham Sheen, Akali, Kirkstall, that weighed 497kg and came out at $1764.
The second pen to notch 355c/kg was a line of 21 Angus steers sold by D Madden that weighed 359kg and converted to $1275.
The next pen matched the 355c/kg mark and comprised 18 Angus steers sold by Hallyburton Farms.
The line weighed 391kg and came out at $1391.
Top price on a dollar per head basis was the opening pen of 28 Angus steers, 24 months, by Cundare Grazing, that sold for $1784 or 351c/kg, on the pen average weight of 508kg.
Lady Franklin Pastoral Company sold six steers, 447kg, for 354c/kg or $1581.
Three pens totalling 55 Angus steers sold by Lynlee weighing between 374-501kg, sold from 346c/kg (for the lightest) to 353c/kg for 28 that weighed 431kg.
The heavy pen made 351c/kg or $1759.
Neathvale sold consecutive pens at 351c/kg.
The first was a pen of 15 weighing 408kg and the second line comprised 17 weighing 368kg, or $1433 and $1294 respectively.
Of the heifer penning the best presented pen was from Martin Gellett, Clanvale, Willaura, with 14 Angus, 15-16 months weighing 366kg and selling for 318c/kg.
The same vendor got 315c/kg for eight heifers, 364kg.
Next best was 316c/kg for a pen of 17 heifers sold by Timboon Farms that weighed 365kg, making $1156.