Genuine weaner calves sold above $2000 a head at Leongatha on Friday during a large yarding of more than 3500 cattle.
The fortnightly store sale featured several hundred calves aged eight to 11 months, as well as well-bred lines of grown steers which sold to strong demand.
Local graziers underpinned the sale, agents said, while feedlot enquiry was significantly stronger compared to recent sales at the Victorian Livestock Exchange.
A feature of the sale was 650 weaners and 200 grown cattle offered by clients of Phelan & Henderson & Co as part of the agency's annual calf sale.
Phelan & Henderson & Co director David Phelan said prices for light cattle were very promising.
"We had genuine calves at 11 months old make above $2000 and that's the first time we've had actual calves make that money here," Mr Phelan said.
"Although there was a fair few little cattle making over 600 cents a kilo last market and we haven't seen that today, however, prices were still very strong."
P, N, D & M Moore, Yarram, sold 92 Angus steer calves which weighed an average of 369kg and made an average of $1874 per head or 508c/kg.
The same vendor sold 26 Angus calves, 404kg, 11 months, for $2040 or 505c/kg.
Kay and Ron Belcher, Wonga Park, Woodside, sold 35 Hereford calves which averaged 391kg or $1660 per head or 553c/kg.
K Opray, Hedley, sold 101 Angus and Black Baldy steers which averaged 481kg, and made $2163 or 449c/kg on average.
Mr Phelan, of Billy Creek Station, also sold 86 Hereford calves, 337kg, which made $1697 per head or 504c/kg on average.
Buyers dig deep for breast cancer fundraiser
Another feature of the sale was 27 cattle offered by the Outtrim Moyarra Kongwak Cricket Club as part of its Pink Stumps McGrath Foundation breast cancer fundraiser.
More than $37,000 was raised from the sale of the cattle which had been on agistment for the last 12 months across club members' properties.
Selling agent SEJ Leongatha livestock manager James Kyle said people threw the calculators away and supported the cause.
"We bought them for about $770 on average a year ago and they averaged about $1900 on the way out," Mr Kyle said.
"Repeat buyers were very supportive and everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer and if they haven't, who is to say they won't know someone down the track, so it really touched a nerve with a lot of people."
Elders Leongatha and Korumburra auctioneer Damien Minogue said the sale was underpinned by local restockers who were chasing lighter cattle.
"The job was very strong the whole way through and as per usual the feedlotters were very strong on the heavy cattle and $2000 a head was no barrier for them," Mr Minogue said.
"I don't want to keep on quoting it dearer every week because otherwise they would be making about $10,000 a head now but the market is still very solid."
Nutrien Leongatha livestock manager Brian McCormack said the sale was fully firm.
"Cattle showed a lot of condition and I think the sale was solid despite one or two major buyers absent," Mr McCormack said.
"I think you will still find people have gone home empty handed even with 3500 cattle."
How the cattle sold
R & L Hull, Toora, sold nine steers, 303kg, for $1560 or 514c/kg.
BJ O'Loughlin, Mirboo North, sold six steers, 468kg, for $2120 or 452c/kg.
SI & CA Harrison, Giffard, sold 16 steers, 503kg, for $2370 or 471c/kg.
G & L Simmons, Woodside, sold 14 steers, 365kg, for $1830 or 501c/kg.
G Hawkins sold 18 steers, 328kg, for $1760 or 536c/kg.
WB & M Hawkins sold 20 steers, 312kg, for $1730 or 544c/kg and 1 steers, 13 steers, 247kg, for $1570 or 635c/kg.
Telegraph Pastoral, Hedley, sold 17 steers, 260kg, for $1520 or 584c/kg.
Greenwald Pastoral Co, Foster, sold 19 steers, 504kg, for $2240 or 444c/kg and 20 steers, 282kg, for $1550 or 549c/kg.
A Kensley, Leongatha, sold four heifers, 408kg, for $1760 or 431c/kg.
B & L Barrett, Traralgon, sold 14 heifers, 300kg, for $1480 or 493c/kg.
D & H Wigg sold 16 heifers, 418kg, for $1750 or 418c/kg.
G & L Simmons, Woodside, sold 13 heifers, 256kg, for $1200 or 468c/kg.
M Armstrong, Foster, sold five Angus cows with calves at foot for $2900 and 16 cows with calves at foot for $2820.