Local graziers underpinned Colac's store sale on Friday in what agents described as a mixed yarding of cattle.
About 850 head were yarded for the May store sale where light steers sold for more than 600 cents a kilogram.
Agents said light-weight weaner calves were the feature of the market, while an influx of crossbred cattle sold to softer rates.
Charles Stewart Colac livestock agent Matt Nelson said the demand for breeding females was "very competitive".
"That has a lot to do with the steer prices being so high," Mr Nelson said.
"Graziers from the local area were very strong and always supported the sale and we had a little bit of northern competition too."
S & H Preston sold 11 Hereford steers, 240kg, for $1500 a head or 622c/kg.
Bay Constructions, Apollo Bay, sold 12 Hereford steers, 421kg, for $1835 or 435c/kg.
They also sold two Angus steers, 430kg, for $1900 or 441c/kg and six Hereford steers, 335kg, for $1450 or 432c/kg and six Angus/Hereford-cross steers, 355kg, for $1660.
N Shalley, Yeo, sold eight Charolais steers, 405kg, for $1810 or 446c/kg and four steers, 341kg, for $1550 or 454c/kg.
Bay Constructions also sold nine heifers, 322kg, for $1520 or 472c/kg.
"We had a pen of Angus heifers with one-month-old calves make $2700 each and those are the rates where seeing elsewhere in the state due to that demand for breeding stock," Mr Nelson said.
Charles Stewart Dove livestock manager Shelby Howard said local agents were among the bulk of buyers, while feedlot operators and commission buyers were mostly absent.
"The really good lines of the weaner calves presented excellently with the heaviest lines exceeding $1800," Mr Howard said.
"In saying that though there were limited lines of weaner calves."
Mr Howard said the region had benefited from a wet autumn with good rain this week.
"It's very dry in northern Victoria compared to down here so people will be able to carry on for a bit longer without having to sell," Mr Howard said.
GP & DP Jones, Tanybryn, sold 10 Angus cows with calves at foot for $3300.
I Duncan, Elliminyt, sold one Charolais-cross cow and calf for $2500.
Bryce Eishold
Bryce is a senior journalist with Australian Community Media's Stock & Land where he reports on all aspects of agriculture. Bryce is also the president of the Rural Press Club of Victoria. Email Bryce at bryce.eishold@stockandland.com.au.
Bryce is a senior journalist with Australian Community Media's Stock & Land where he reports on all aspects of agriculture. Bryce is also the president of the Rural Press Club of Victoria. Email Bryce at bryce.eishold@stockandland.com.au.
