The all breeds steer weaner sale at Hamilton on Tuesday saw prices peak at 345 cents a kilogram, improving 5-15c/kg on the 2019 result.
Once again the highlight of the day was the demand for European Union-accredited stock among the yarding of 2309 cattle, with those pens carrying the green tag making the biggest rises.
Orders came from a wide area of western Victoria as well as Gippsland.
Feedlotters and backgrounders picked up more than 750 cattle for various destinations while Landmark International bought 336 steers.
Angus cattle numbered nearly 1300 head with the lines up to 350kg selling from 200-339c/kg, averaging 310c/kg, and the heavier lines from 288-345c/kg, averaged 318c/kg.
There were 738 Herefords penned with the lighter cattle under 350kg selling between 255-312c/kg, averaging 290c/kg, and the heavier portion making between 275-326c/kg, averaging 306c/kg.
Sam Savin, Landmark, Hamilton, said the quality of the cattle was very good.
"Demand came from northern and south-east feedlots and domestic fatteners," he said.
Mr Savin said the EU premium appeared to be around 25-30c/kg.
He said the outstanding sale of the day was a big line of Bassano-blood steers sold by Jean Maling, Fiveways, Portland, that sold under strong competition for 345c/kg.
The line weighed 400kg, coming in at $1383, and was bought by Whyalla Beef.
The Mibus family's Sandy Camp, Gorae West, forwarded 120 Angus, Black Baldy and Hereford steers.
The best of their prices was equal top of the sale at 345c/kg for a pen of 20 Angus steers, 416kg, that reached the top on a per head price of $1435.
These also sold to Whyalla Beef.
A second line comprising 30, 350kg, sold for 338c/kg, or $1183.
The Conargo, NSW, feedlot picked up the first two pens of the sale, taking pen one at 318c/kg for 19 steers sold by Donovan, 419kg, making $1333.
The second pen was a line of 46 sold by Nangara that weighed 401kg and sold for 318c/kg or $1279.
Nangara also sold 41 steers, 313kg, for 318c/kg, or $996.
Eleven steers sold by Lambs, 345kg, made 337c/kg, or $1162.
Aaron Malseed, Elders, Hamilton, said the Hereford offering was excellent quality, with strong buying support coming from repeat buyers looking for EU-accredited stock.
"Feedlotters were also looking for EU cattle ready to straight into a feedlot," he said.
He said a feature was the Inverell calves.
The consignment of steers sold by regular vendors, the Craig family, Inverell, Casterton, saw one buyer take 84 in one line weighing an average of 362-408kg, for 319c/kg.
The second lines sold to 317c/kg.
Top price of the Herefords was 326c/kg or $1217 for a pen of 27 sold by Beerik Partnership, Coleraine, weighing 373kg.
A pen of 20 Charolais steers, 372kg, sold by Dallas, made to 306c/kg, or $1140, while a second line of 18 made 291c/kg, or $936.