A yarding of nearly 1911 black cattle came in for fierce competition from feedlotters, finishers and restockers at the Omeo Mountain Calf Sale.
Prices were in the realms of $400 to $600 a head above last year's rates, rewarding vendors for delivering a top quality penning of mixed-sex cattle.
Elders Omeo livestock manager David Hill said the sale was an excellent result.
The yarding comprised 912 steers that averaged $1338 while 999 heifers averaged $1155.
He said those cattle with European Union accreditation did come in for increased competition.
There was excellent support from feedlotters with Killara Feedlot dominating on suitable cattle.
There was the traditional strong support also coming from grass finishers in Gippsland and the added support of an export order.
Mr Hill said the first couple of runs of steers didn't dip below $1500.
"This cattle market is at levels that even older producers have never seen," he said.
Numbers were impacted by fires and drought and some of those cattle were sold earlier.
"Now we've got a season, heifers are being retained where we can," he said.
Now we've got a season, heifers are being retained where we can.
- David Hill, Elders
Heifers made up to $1500 and only a few sold under $1000.
He said it had been extremely tough and it was a credit to the vendors for the way the cattle were presented.
The National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) quoted the top weaners selling to $1640, or 410 cents a kilogram.
The top of the yearling steers was $1470 or 392c/kg on estimated weights of 375kg.
The NLRS reported the top of the weaner heifers at $1310, weighing an estimated 400kg, or 328c/kg.
The tops of the yearling heifers made $1500 for 37 Angus heifers estimated to weigh 475kg or 316c/kg.
Leading the sale off was a pen of 15 sold by Rick and Amanda Crisp, that made $1640.
The Crisps followed up with a line of heifers that sold for $1310.
BC & G Flynn, Ensay, forwarded a draft of mixed-sex Angus with the lead pen of steers comprising a pen of 24 that sold for $1630.
Another pen from the Flynns comprising 46 sold for $1520 and the thirds for $1500.
The Flynn heifers sold to $1220 for 13.
IK Junor sold 18 Angus steers that made $1580.
The Junors' heifers sold to a top of $1430 for a pen of 14.
CE & DG Anderson consigned Angus and Angus-cross mixed-sex, with 12 making $1520 and 18 Black Baldies to $1420.
The heifer portion of this draft sold to $1270 for a pen of 40.
The lead pen of steers from AI & RD Nicholas, a pen of 14 , sold for $1560.
Other pens by the same vendor sold in a range from around $1200 to $1550.
WA Pendergast & Sons sold a draft to $1470 for the lead pen and $1400 for the seconds.
The heifers sold to a top of $1300 for 31 as well as $1140 for 33.
A large wing of steers sold by Black Mountain Station was offered with the first draft comprising 78 that sold for $1410.
Two further lots comprising 60 and 58 sold for $1320 and $1290 respectively.
Top of the heifer section was a pen of 37 that made $1500 by Meringo Pastoral.
The same vendor had 38 that made $1420.
Major vendor on the day was Frank and Dawn Boulton, Wulgulmerang, who yarded 404 Black Baldy heifers.
The offering sold in drafts from 23 to 100 and made mainly in a range of $1240 down to $1050.
GT Farmer offered 20 heifers that sold for $1230.
