Strong demand for cows, calves at Echuca

However, the agents said a decent rain was needed within two weeks to improve industry confidence during spring.

FP Nevins & Co made up about 70 per cent of the sale, according to its agent Hamish Hooppell, who said there was a strong demand for cows and calves.

"We had a couple of lots pull out which may have drawn more interest, but the cows and calves were making less than split value," Mr Hooppell said.

"The dairy steer portion was also much stronger than recent sales.

"The season is showing a bit in terms of the affected categories though."

Elders agent Matt O'Connor said he recorded a 100pc sale rate, offloading 150 head of cattle.

"Cows and calves sold probably to a greater level than expectation, especially with quality," Mr O'Connor said.

"There was 17 second-to-third calving Angus cows, they made $1700 [a head] and that looked to be $150 over split value.

"There was very good competition with four feedlotters and two processors here with spirited competition on those 300-kilogram plus cattle."

Mr O'Connor said there was local restocker demand which saw steers between 200 and 250 kilograms make between 330 and 350 cents a kilogram.

"While water's trading at somewhere between $650 to $700 per megalitre, I think in northern Victoria you'll see people are pretty reluctant to go splashing it around for stock, that's for sure," he said.

Tatura-based Mulcahy Nelson Livestock also reported good figures, selling 50 Angus-cross steers.

"The top pen made $990, the seconds made $770 and the some small, really young calves made $470, they were Angus F1s," agent Michael Mulcahy said.

"It looked like smaller cattle were making plenty of money and there were some opportunities with the bigger cattle too."

But Mr Mulcahy said the industry lacked confidence, with many producers concerned about a dry spring and summer.

"We need a good rain in the next seven to 10 days to improve confidence and ensure we get some sort of a season through the spring," he said.