NSW buyers helped underpin the monthly Colac store cattle sale, which also attracted strong support from local agents and producers.
Charles Stewart livestock consultant Jamie McConachy said most of the cattle remained local, although northern Victorian buyers were also active on the 1929-head yarding.
Mr McConachy said prices pushed up to 800 cents a kilogram on some of the lighter weaners.
"Colac doesn't yard around 2000 cattle often, but they did it well on Friday," he said.
"It was all price driven, people were opting to take the money while it is still about.
"There is less stress involved in selling cattle now, in potentially what might be a hot January."
He said most of the weaners sold from 600-700c/kg, with prices touching 800c/kg on the lightest steers.
Charles Stewart Dove auctioneer Shelby Howard said weaner prices were "absolutely exceptional".
"It was typical for Colac, heavy steers were a bit over 500c/kg, with limited buyers running on them," Mr Howard said.
"But as soon as you hit the weaners, they just took off, same as last sale - little calves sold for $2200-2400 [a head] all day."
He said he expected the market to correct soon.
"It's got to correct itself in the next six to 12 months, you look at the way weaners are selling at the moment compared with the prime price, there are two different set ups," he said.
"I have a feeling it will come back to a sustainable price which is fair all ways - for the breeder, the fattener and the processor."
There was strong local support for buyers wanting to background cattle and they competed on stock with O'Connors, Mort and Company, Qld, Clarke Roycroft, Elders, and Creek Livestock, SA.
Nutrien Ag Solutions Colac livestock agent Phil Douglas said it was another strong sale.
Mr Douglas said Corcoran Parker, Wodonga, and Echuca commissioner buyer Luke McMahon were among the northern purchasers.
"I thought some of the weaners, as far as cents a kilogram, weren't as good as November - over the two sales the rates weren't as strong," he said.
"I noticed there was around 10c/kg difference [lower] on the weights on last month."
He said European cattle sold to higher rates, which was quality driven.
Read more: Cows and calves, heifers shine at Colac
Pingiaro & Fenton sold 13 steers, 487kg, for $2510 or 515c/kg.
PJ & CM McCarthy sold nine Murdeduke-blood steers, 454kg, at $2440 or 537c/kg.
Costin Family Trust sold 14 steers, 408kg, for $2440 or 598c/kg.
Hillview Farm sold five Otway Angus-blood steers, 489kg, for $2480 or 507c/kg.
L & MS Ham sold 17 Barwidgee and Lawson-blood steers, 403kg, for $2500 or 620c/kg.
Senglyn sold six Murdeduke-blood steers, 392kg, for $2360 or 602c/kg.
Senglyn's pen of 10 steers, 255kg, sold for $1760 or 690c/kg, while another pen of 13 steers, 318kg, sold for $2270 or 713c/kg.
Balstock sold 17 Claremont-blood steers, 348kg, for $2390 or 687c/kg.
Curra sold 11 Tillabudgery-blood steers, 319kg, for $2230 or 699c/kg.
Boxhall Daughters Trust sold 12 Baringa Park-blood Angus/Simmental-cross steers, 383kg, for $2260 or 590c/kg.
GK Battye sold nine Tillabudgery-blood steers, 352kg, for $2350 or 667c/kg.
Buchanan Constructions sold 13 Angus heifers, 403kg, for $2210 or 548c/kg.
KA & DJ Harper sold 12 Angus heifers, Picasso, Incredible and Lawson-blood, 375kg, for $1950 or 520c/kg.
Riches sold 10 heifers, 315kg, for $2050 or 650c/kg.
PD & AL Janes sold 20 heifers, 274kg, for $1710 or 624c/kg.
Sykes Pastoral sold six heifers, 290kg, for $1850 or 637c/kg.
Lomax Farms sold nine heifers, 321kg, for $1750 or 545c/kg.
McNamara Dairying sold 6x6 cows and calves for $2980.