A quality yarding of weaner and breeder cattle attracted strong bidding competition from South Gippsland and northern Victorian buyers at Bairnsdale on Friday.
Agents yarded about 1530 cattle for the fortnightly store sale which attracted consignments from as far east as Genoa and south-eastern NSW.
Light steers under 300 kilograms ranged from 440-507 cents a kilogram while bigger steers, 360-390kg, made 330-450c/kg.
Demand for heifers pushed prices up on a fortnight ago with light female cattle under 280kg selling above 400c/kg.
Prices were reportedly firm-to-fully-firm on the previous market, mainly due to a better quality offering with more weight, agents said.
Southern Livestock Management, Flynn, offered 12 Angus cows with calves at foot which sold for $2650.
It also sold 11 Angus cows with calves at foot for $2600.
Elders Bairnsdale livestock manager Morgan Davies described the sale as an "outstanding result".
"A lot of the cattle had good growth on them and while we might start to see store cattle numbers dwindle soon, it is a bit dry and the numbers might continue to come through as it gets colder," Mr Davies said.
Agents said the sale was underpinned by South Gippsland agents and producers as well as support from northern Victoria, including agents who were filling orders for clients near Wangaratta and Shepparton.
Sharp Fullgrabe director Graeme Fullgrabe sold a strong consignment of vendor-bred cattle from across the NSW border with weaners and grown steers showing slightly more condition compared to recent sales.
"We were selling big store Charolais bullocks for $2000. They worked out to be 348c/kg and that's as good as any fat price," Mr Fullgrabe said.
"I had orders for cattle to go to the north but the market was about 10 cents behind what my clients gave me."
The Reed brothers from Delegate, NSW, were among the vendors to receive a premium for their weaner cattle.
AJ and NJ Reed sold 18 Hereford steers, 236kg, for $1190 or 504c/kg.
AD and MK Reed sold 14 Hereford steers, 282kg, for $1330 or 471c/kg.
LH and JL Reed sold 22 Hereford steers, 303kg, for $1330 or 438c/kg.
Nutrien Bairnsdale livestock manager Brad Obst said the sale was dearer on the previous market mostly due to the northern demand.
"Everything sold well given the South Gippslanders traditionally chased the heavier end of the calves and with the northerners chasing the lighter cattle, all classes of cattle sold well," Mr Obst said.
"The heifers continued on and were fully firm on last sale, probably a bit more driven by those from the south and local competition."
K and J Alexander, Walpa, sold 36 steers, 297kg, for $1340 or 451c/kg.
Their second pen of 17 steers, 278kg, made $1330 or 478c/kg.
Meanwhile, Bega Valley vendor A Foord, Candelo, NSW, sold eight cows with calves at foot for $2020.
BJ Timbers, Cann River, sold four cows with calves at foot for $1640.
Mr Obst said the autumn break had reached parts of East Gippsland, particularly near Bairnsdale, where good rainfall and light grazing ratios had added weight to cattle earlier than anticipated.
R and E Burns, Heyfield, sold 10 steers, 476kg, for $1750 or 367c/kg.
Hammond Logging, Bombala, sold 12 steers, 248kg, for $1240 or or 500c/kg.
MJ Coleman, Licola, sold 17 steers, 265kg, for $1250 or 471c/kg.
He also sold another nine steers, 202kg, for $1030 or 507c/kg.
Bridles Better Beef, Genoa, sold 16 steers, 429kg, for $1680 or 391c/kg.
They also sold 14 steers, 381kg, for $1350 or 354c/kg.
AD and MK Reed sold 14 Hereford steers, 282kg, for $1330 or 471c/kg.
AJ and NJ Reed sold 18 Hereford steers, 236kg, for $1190 or 504c/kg.
LH and JL Reed sold 22 Hereford steers, 303kg, for $1330 or 438c/kg.
R and E Grealey, Buchan, sold 17 heifers, 218kg, for $890 or 408c/kg.
Bridles Better Beef, Genoa, sold 18 heifers, 236kg, $900 or 381c/kg.
The also sold 14 heifers, 198kg, for $820 or 414c/kg.
AD and MK Reed sold 14 Hereford heifers, 249kg, for $1040 or 417c/kg
JB and JM Robinson sold 17 Charolais heifers, 272kg, for $1110 or 408c/kg.
LH and SE Pendergast sold 13 Charolais steers, 379kg, for $1530 or 403c/kg.
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