South and West Gippslanders bought a bulk of the cattle on offer at Bairnsdale on Friday where more than 1800 cattle were yarded.
Additional interest by restockers from north-east Victoria and a northern Victorian feedlot boosted demand during the fortnightly sale as professional and commission buyers were mostly absent.
East Gippsland agents reported firm-to-fully-firm results across all lines of cattle as light weaner steers sold above 450 cents a kilogram.
Myrtleford-based Paull and Scollard Nutrien livestock manager Dan Ivone represented about half a dozen restockers in his district.
He bought 118 cattle, mostly black weaners, and said the market was softer compared to recent sales he had visited.
"I didn't go to Bairnsdale the previous sale but I was told it was cheaper ... and it was soften than places like Barnawartha and Yea," Mr Ivone said.
"Some cattle sold very well but the lighter end of the cattle were cheaper than what we've been able to get up around here and that's mainly due to a lack of northern influence at the market."
A commission buyer for Garrison Cattle Feeders, Murray Downs, was also active during the sale.
Wangarabelle Station, Geona, sold a run of 70 Angus weaner steers, selling to a top $1310.
A pen of their its steers, 274kg, made $1250 or 456c/kg.
Sharp Fullgrabe director Graeme Fullgrabe said female cattle for breeding were in strong demand among local buyers.
"It was a ripping sale and the smaller they got the dearer they got," he said.
Nutrien Bairnsdale livestock manager Brad Obst said the market was "fully firm across the board".
"Most of the weaner cattle made between 450-550 cents a kilogram and the heavier end of the weaner cattle were between 380-430c/kg," Mr Obst said.
"Heifers were strong, I didn't think they were any dearer than our last sale, but they were significantly heavier than the last fortnightly sale."
Bill Wyndham & Co livestock agent Gerard Ogilvie described the sale as "firm".
"There was good, solid inquiry from locals and all local agents bought steers and heifers for their clients in the area," Mr Ogilvie said.
KJ and GJ Connley, Benambra, sold 62 steers including eight Angus steers, 573kg, for $1910 or 333c/kg.
Their second pen of 12 steers, 505kg, sold for $1870 or 370c/kg.
Froehlich and Pota, Pambula, sold 20 Angus steers, 319kg, for $1390 or 435c/kg.
They also sold 22 steers, 282kg, for $1310 or 464c/kg.
GV Crisp, Omeo, sold 20 Hereford steers, 480kg, for $1820 or 379c/kg.
J and D Pederson, Stratford, sold 10 Hereford steers, 400kg, for $1550 or 387c/kg.
K and N White, Bairnsdale, sold 15 Angus steers, 400kg, for $1695 or 423c/kg.
RW Moon, Glenantipy, sold a run of light Hereford steers including a pen of 25 six-month-old steers which made $1100.
CJ Treasure, Iguana Creek, sold 29 steers including four Hereford grown steers for $1540.
JH and AM Cameron, Buchan, sold 11 Angus heifers, 446kg, for $1530 or 342c/kg.
GV Crisp, Omeo, sold 10 Hereford heifers, 434kg, for $1420 for or 327c/kg.
Melrose Herefords, Cann River, sold 20 Hereford heifers, 350kg, for $1200 or 342c/kg.
Youngs Creek, Orbost, sold 16 Charolais heifers, 323kg, for $1200 or 371c/kg.
Mitchell Valley, Woodglen, sold two Red Angus cows and with calves at for $2350.
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