A much larger yarding of nearly 1800 cattle were penned at Bairnsdale last week and quality helped lift prices for some categories.
The yarding was up from just on 400 a fortnight ago.
The National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) reported that with the surge in numbers came an improvement in quality, with more weight and condition presented in all categories.
There was plenty of activity in the buyers gallery also, with a larger field of locals competing with the regulars from across Gippsland and the return of some limited feedlot demand.
The service quoted yearling steers selling to $1960 a head for seven black baldy, 652 kilograms, or 301 cents a kilogram.
Two pens of bullocks from Shorland Fisheries went to Gathercole's for a top of $2020.
Sharp Fullgrabe principal Graeme Fullgrabe said there had been a number of late entries to the sale that had boosted advertised numbers.
He said the run of Euro cattle, with weight, had sold between 300-310c/kg.
He said there was a "beautiful" run of black steers forwarded, "but with no weight".
For those in the 300-340kg range, prices were to a top of 384c/kg, with the majority in a range of 330 to 360c/kg.
M & M Treasure, Walpa, sold mixed sex Herefords, 10 months old, with the steers selling in a pen of 23, 330kg, and making $1270, or 384c/kg.
The heifer portion comprised 18, 329kg, that sold for $990, or 300c/kg.
K & J Alexander sold a draft of mixed sex Angus with 15 steers, 293kg, making $1100 or 375c/kg. The heifer portion of 15 was sold unweighed for $650.
BM Walker, Broadlands, sold 10 Angus steers, 425kg, that went for $1420 or 334c/kg.
Luke Mekken Pty Ltd sold 15 Angus steers, 296kg, for $1035 or 349c/kg, while the yearling heifer portion of his offering sold in three drafts between $800 and $980 or 360-370c/kg.
JA Vardy had 15 Angus steers, 330kg, that sold at $1100, or 333c/kg.
AD & MK Reed, Delegate River, NSW, sold Hereford steers at 281kg for $820, or 292c/kg, and heifers to $700.
Five black baldy steers from PR Fraser, Ensay, 15 months, sold for $1390, or 278c/kg on weights of 400kg. Six Hereford heifers account Fraser sold for $810 or 243c/kg on weights of 333kg.
Competition was solid for the steer portion of the sale while the heifers sold to fluctuating results with prices following quality a little more than the steers.
Overall, steers were somewhat dearer in places while heifers lost ground on some sales.
A draft of Hereford/Shorthorn-cross heifers, account Penderscourt, with calves 4-6 weeks at foot, sold in three lines, from $1740 up to $1840.
The draft all going back to local restockers.
CM Stubbs sold Poll Hereford cows, six-year-old, PTIC, for $1260.
