Light steers made up to 853 cents a kilogram or $1810 a head and heifers to 765c/kg or $1660 at Warrnambool's store cattle sale last Friday.
A yarding of 1150 head came forward and the quality and types of cattle varied.
The run of steers weighing 300-400kg sold to 644c/kg, while the heavier steers, 400kg-plus, sold up to 536c/kg, with feedlots the main destination.
In the open auction section, steers sold to $1810 or 853c/kg.
The market for crossbred steers was strong, with most making 395-492c/kg.
Weighed heifers sold well above last month's sale with the best making from 530-574c/kg.
Open auction heifers made up to $1660 or 765c/kg.
There were limited numbers of cows and calves and these made $2500-$3200.
Warrnambool Stock Agents Association president Jack Kelly said the yarding had a bit of everything as was expected in late July.
Mr Kelly said the area had got "very, very wet" and some had to do something and that had "pushed a few smaller cattle in".
"There were some travelers here as well as locals because they know that when the sun comes the grass comes and no one knows where the market will go then," he said.
"The north-east of Victoria and south-east of South Australia were strong, as were feedlotters and locals.
"We are very happy with the result, particularly the open auction steers and heifers.
"The heifer prices was the biggest surprise but they were beautifully bred and had potential - that's what people are looking for."
He said with the weather it had been hard for people to muster cattle and get them into the saleyards.
He said the market was being helped by prices in the prime cattle market which over the past few weeks had "gone to another level", pushed by processors and feedlotters.
"There's plenty of hay out there and the dollar has come back from 78.5 cents to 73c," he said.
Mr Kelly said there was not the quality at this sale compared with the previous sale, but the lighter heifers were $150 to $200 dearer on that sale.
Crossbred steers sold very well and some small cattle at the end were cattle forced onto the market by the wet conditions.
Kevin Mugavin sold 10 Angus steers, 16-17 months, 468kg, for 536c/kg or $2508.
Dura sold a couple of lines of steers, 14-15 months, with a pen of 11 at 449kg making 530c/kg or $2379, and a pen of 15 at 380kg making 545c/kg or $2071.
RF McGhie sold 12 steers, 396kg, for 550c/kg or $2178.
A pen of 23 Hereford steers sold by Odalwell, 420kg, made 505c/kg or $2121.
Marinella sold 16 Hereford steers, 381kg, for 520c/kg or $1981, and seven at 384kg for 500c/kg or $1920.
Of the lighter steers a pen of five by S Negre, 315kg, sold for 644c/kg or $2028.
Also making 644c/kg was a pen of seven sold by Maree West, 285kg, that came out at $1835.
D & J Walsh sold nine steers, 334kg, for 588c/kg or $1963.
Tops of the Speckle Park and Angus steers, 7-8 months, sold by Dunbulbalane Partnership, was a pen of seven at 326kg that made 530c/kg or $1727.
Tops of the open auction steers was a pen of 25 spring 2020-drop, weaned, 212kg, sold by Glenwood, that made $1810 or 853c/kg.
The same vendor also topped the heifer section with a pen of 19 at 217kg that made $1660 or 765c/kg and another pen of 10 at 189kg that sold for $1350 or 714c/kg.
A pen of 13 heifers, 363kg, sold by J & G White for 548c/kg or $1983.
Ecklin House forwarded a line of 21 Angus heifers, 282kg, that sold for 574c/kg or $1607.
Ten heifers by Ladrow, 410kg, sold for 548c/kg or $1989, and 20 young heifers at 226kg made $1600 or 707c/kg.
Boathouse consigned a pen of 14 heifers, 288kg, that sold for 560c/kg or $1612.
A pen of 24 heifers by Book-a-Dale, 6-10 months, 172kg, sold for $1300 or 755c/kg.
R & MA Mills sold 10 Angus/Charolais-cross heifers, 8-9 months, 256kg, for 552c/kg or $1413.
