A yarding of 1160 mainly Hereford steers at Casterton sold to an average of 283 cents a kilogram.
The sale result was largely led by cattle with EU accreditation and had weight.
Intestate competition clashed hard with local support from across the western district for suitable cattle.
Three South Australian buyers put together 380 between them, while three Casterton orders took 269.
About 132 cattle went to NSW buyers with some of those staying in the area on agistment.
The breakdown saw 1088 Hereford steers sell in a range of 238-318c/kg or $494 to $1170, averaging $875 a head.
The top pen on a cents a kilogram basis was a pen of 19 sold by Shallum Holdings, Casterton.
This pen weighed 360kg and sold for 318c/kg or $1146.
The same vendor had three other pens with 27, at 305kg selling for 291c/kg or $890, 31 at 255kg for 280c/kg or $714, and a pen of 16 light steers, 207kg, that made 238c/kg or $494.
Major vendors at this sale for many years, the Lambert family's Taronga consignment led the sale off with a pen of 52, 369kg, that made 314c/kg or $1159.
Taronga had 151 in total with two pens alike totaling 61, at 318kg, making 285c/kg; and 38 at 296kg making 280c/kg or $714.
Rosebank Pastoral Co also forwarded its annual draft that included a pen of 10 weighing 287kg that made 300c/kg, or $1161.
Their other lines included 27 at 305 making 291c/kg or $888, 17 at 352kg that made 302c/kg or $1035, 28 at 315kg selling for 282c/kg, and 14 at 280kg making 280c/kg.
Elders auctioneer Sam Broomby, Casterton, said the yarding was slightly down on advertised as vendors chose to hold onto a few calves that didn't make the normal weights until next spring.
Weights were around 15-20kg down on normal after a late start to the season and some calves "were dropped onto not much tucker".
The breeding was still there, just not the weight, he said.
Mr Broomby said the EU premium was definitely there, especially on the heavier end, of 15-20c/kg and 5-10c/kg on the lighter end.
"Considering the season elsewhere and fires in the east, we've had two very solid sales," he said.
Landmark auctioneer Rick Smith said the cattle struggled through the autumn and the spring.
Mr Smith said calves bought by Landmark Casterton clients would come back in October or December for sale.
He said the sale started off with feature lines that generally made 290-310c/kg and then shifted back to 260-280c/kg for the bulk of the yarding.
Another regular vendor was Kevin Upton, Glencairn, that sold to a top of 291c/kg for a pen of 52 that weighed 284kg.
A pen of 17 Glenaulin steers weighing 406kg, sold for 288c/kg or $1170.
A second line of 19, 343kg, sold for 280c/kg or $962.
Two pens sold by Welbanite sold to a top of 302c/kg or $1097 on a weight of 363kg for 20.
A second pen of 17, 319kg, sold for 292c/kg or $932.
A pen of seven Charolais steers, 378kg, sold for 288c/kg, or $1090; these were sold by Killara Junction.
There was a small offering of Simmental-cross steers by Wahroonga, selling nine, 300kg making 274c/kg or $822.
A lighter pen of the Wahroonga steers, 260kg, sold for 280c/kg or $728.