Powranna was one of the best yardings ever: Nutrien's Warren Johnston

Steers weighing between 230-260kg consistently sold for between $1660 and $1700/head .

Lighter heifers consistently sold for more than 600c/kg.

Agents yarded 3077 head.

Warren Johnston, Nutrien Ag Solutions, it was possibly as good a yarding of weaner cattle that had ever been presented at Powranna.

"Certainly the seasonal conditions helped with the presentation of the calves," Mr Johnston said.

"Given that was our first offical weaner sale for the season, we saw a good number of cattle on offer and we had support, right across the state."

There was strong AuctionsPlus support, as well, with Ballarat agents among those buying Angus steers.

"We will trade about 20,000 weaners, over the next 10 weeks," Mr Johnston said.

Nutrien generally yarded 2400-2500 head at this time of year.

"Some producers are taking advantage of the market, while it's at this level," he said.

Processors JBS and Greenham were also active, seeking cattle to background for later in the year, as was Tasmanian Feedlot.

"We had about 157 people viewing our sale, through AuctionsPlus," he said.

Nutrien's Drew Skinner said most steers went to grass finishers throughout the state.

"There is confidence in the job, throughout, and the lack of numbers is helping drive the job as well," Mr Skinner said.

"If the prices stay where they were, it's very positive for producers.

"Once you got down to 250-300kg, you really needed $1700 to try to buy something."

He said some heifers from "renowned" breeders Connorville and Surveyors Bay were most likely bought to be run on and joined.

Meat & Livestock Australia market reporter Richard Bailey said Powranna saw an outstanding lineup of calves.

The great season in Tasmania meant there were few cattle under 200kg.

"They would rank with any calves in Australia, the season down here has been excellent, so you would expect that," Mr Bailey said.

"The first sale can be the dearest, it was interfaced with AuctionsPlus and, although they didn't buy many cattle, they were in on many lots, so that means the market only has to come back a fraction and they will come in."

The MLA reported most steers were $50 to $100/head dearer than a fortnight ago, and most light heifers also improved $50 to $80/head.

The heaviest steer weaners over 330kg made from $1,780 to $2,120/head to average 530c/kg.

Medium weights 280 to 330kg made from $1,650 to $1,880/head to average 585c/kg.

Light weight cattle, 200 to 280kg were selling from $1,410 to $1,710 to average 665c whilst the very light types sold from $1,320 to $1,580/head to average 800c/kg.

Heavy heifer weaners were selling from $1,560 to $1,820/head to average 468c/kg.

The medium weights made from $1,360 to $1,700/head to average 510c/kg, while lighter weights sold from $1,180 to $1,620 to average 585c and very lights made from $1,100 to $1,340/head to average 650c/kg.

Sunbury sold 11 Hereford-cross steers, 426kg, for $2120, or 497c/kg.

Sunbury's pen of 12 Hereford-cross steers, 392kg, sold for $2020, or 515c/kg.

Mayfair Estate sold seven Angus steers, 404kg, for $1780, or 440c/kg.

Blackwood Valley sold nine eight-10-month-old Angus steers, 393kg, for $1820, or 463c/kg.

Killoran sold 20 steers, 354kg, eight-10 months old, for $1920, or 542c/kg.

Roxford sold six Chale-blood Angus steers, 10-11 months, 377kg, for $1880, or 498c/kg.

Roxford's pen of six, av 332kg, sold for $1780, or 536c/kg.

Leighton sold seven Onslow-blood Angus steers, eight-10 months old, 361kg, for $1800, or 498c/kg.

Bandcove sold 42 Angus steers, eight-10 months old, 343kg, for $1900, or 553c/kg.

Bandcove's 13 seven-nine-month-old steers, 312kg, sold for $1680, or 538c/kg.

Cascades sold 10 Hereford-cross steers, 328kg, for $1860, or 567c/kg.

Dennistoun sold 29 Angus steers, 324kg, for $1800, or 555c/kg.

Inglewood sold 18 Angus steers, 327kg, for $1860, or 568c/kg.

Loatta sold 18 Richmond Hill-blood Angus steers, eight-10 months old, 319kg, for $1840, or 576c/kg.

The Currie sold 17 Landfall-blood steers, 319kg, for $1860, or 583c/kg.

Its second pen of 17 steers, 314kg, sold for $1820, or 579c/kg.

Bashan sold 23 Angus steers, eight-10 months old, 317kg, for $1860, or 586c/kg.

Surveyor's Bay sold 25 seven-eight month old steers, 317kg, for $1870 or 589c/kg.

A second pen of 24, 314kg, also sold for $1870, or 595c/kg.

Surveyors Bay's lighter steers sold up to $1700.

Its 62 steers, 268kg, averaged 634c/kg.

West Ridgely sold 17 Angus steers, 296kg, for $1680 or 567c/kg.

Bashan sold a pen of 20 steers, 281kg, for $1700, or 604c/kg.

Its lighter pen of eight steers, 241kg, sold for $1620, or 672c/kg.

Derford sold a pen of 15 Landfall-blood Angus steers, 289kg, for $1680, or 581c/kg.

Rushy Lagoon sold 71 of its Angus steers, seven-nine months, 282kg, for $1680, or 595c/kg.

A fourth pen of 23 steers, av 282kg, sold for $1660, or 588c/kg.

Its pen of 19 steers, 253kg, sold for $1660, or 656c/kg.

Blackamoor sold 19 steers, 279kg, for $1680, or 602c/kg.

The Meadows sold 10 steers, eight-10 months, 237kg, for $1660, or 700c/kg.

Barlou sold nine Angus steers, 238kg, for $1440, or 605c/kg.

In the heifers, Emu Plains sold 14 females, 371kg, for $1680, or 452c/kg.

Blackwood Valley sold nine Angus heifers, nine-11 months, 347kg, for $1620 or 466c/kg.

Bandcove sold 18 heifers, 307kg, for $1520, or 495c/kg

Glenvale sold eight Hereford heifers, 394kg, for $1460, or 370c/kg.

Davlyn Park sold nine Poll Hereford heifers, 299kg, for $1460, or 488c/kg.

Cascades sold 15 Charolais-cross heifers, 295kg, for $1600, or 542c/kg.

Rushy Lagoon sold 26 Hereford heifers, 261kg, for $1380, or 428c/kg.

They also sold 44 heifers, 223kg, for $1280 or 573c/kg.

Another pen of 24, av 186kg, sold for $1180 or 634c/kg.

Cuckoo Valley sold 11 Black Baldy heifers, 10-11months, 290kg, for $1360, or 468c/kg.

Surveyors Bay sold 18 heifers, seven-to-eight months, 278kg, for $1620, or 558c/kg.

Their second pen of 40 heifers, 241kg, sold for $1560 or 634c/kg.

A pen of 16 Angus heifers, 209kg, sold for $1400, or 669c/kg.

Cranbourn Park sold a pen of 17 Angus heifers, 200kg, for $1220, or 610c/kg.

Connorville sold 42 heifers, seven-nine months, 232kg, for $1460, or 629c/kg

Black Cow sold 11 Angus heifers, 252kg, for $1360 or 539/kg.

Its pen of nine, 191kg, sold for $1200, or 628c/kg.

Barlou sold 10 Murray Grey heifers, 185kg, for $1180 or 637c/kg.