The small buying gallery at Yea's weaner sale on Tuesday was no reflection of the strength of the sale, as buyers moved online to secure orders.
Nutrien Ag Solutions yarded 3101 head, grossing $6.7 million and averaging $2157 a head, with steers topping at $2540 and heifers at $2400.
The pace of bidding was consistent, Nutrien Ag Solutions Yea agent Tyson Bush said, with the top end of autumn-drop calves cattle on par with current weaner sales.
"The top calves weighed just over 400kg, and were consistently from 280-350kg," Mr Bush said.
"The top end of cattle sold well but as cattle came back in weight and quality, it came off the boil a little bit."
In total, 23 lots (357 head) were purchased online by three Victorian buyers and one NSW buyer, according to AuctionsPlus' Zoe McFarlane, who said there were 171 registered bidders, of which 10 were active and made 334 online bids.
Nutrien Ag Solutions south-east livestock lead Adam Mountjoy said buyers were gaining confidence bidding online.
"There were a lot of active bidders on AuctionsPlus today and they were not picking the eyes out of the sale, they set a floor in the market," Mr Mountjoy said.
"Some of the activity on AuctionsPlus on the lighter end of the steers far surpassed what was happening on the ground.
"We saw 280kg steers make 750 cents a kilogram bought online.
"We trained ourselves to do this 18 months ago but we didn't think we would have to use it to the extent we are."
Mr Mountjoy put together a draft of 70 breeding heifers bound for Rockhampton and Toowoomba, Queensland, as well as a B-Double load of 330-350kg steers destined for the NSW Central Tablelands.
"We are seeing unprecedented demand to rebuild the national herd and there was an opportunity to step in and purchase these better females that would be ready for a bull mid-year," he said.
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That was Rosedale Livestock's James Milner's approach, who travelled from Blayney, NSW, to purchase 104 Angus heifers, which averaged $2204 or 616c/kg, as replacement females that would be ready to join in winter.
On a dollars a head value, steers peaked at $2540, paid by Australian Meat Group (AMG) for the first pen, 22 Angus steers, 11-months-old, 389kg, Reiland-blood, offered by Callandoon, Strath Creek.
They were a part of a draft of 80 heavy Angus steers purchased by AMG, which averaged 393kg, and $2498 or 636c/kg.
Brian Buckland sold the top price of the Charolais/Angus-cross steers at $2370 or 600c/kg.
Herefords peaked at $2300, paid for 20 steers from E and Cox Sinclair, 407kg, and 565c/kg.
Honoured with the best presented pen sash, a feature line of 129 Hereford steers offered by J & TM McCormack sold to a high of $2350, for a draft average of 345kg and $2128 or 617c/kg.
The McCormacks also offered 24 Hereford heifers, which sold to $1940 or 557c/kg.
The few weaners under 300kg made even higher than this, including the offering from 4G Partnership, with their lightest pen at 264kg making $1940 or 735c/kg, while their entire draft of 49 steers averaged $2028 or 640c/kg.
Their 19 heifers averaged $1905 or 634c/kg.
Heifers' sale high was $2400, paid for 24 Angus heifers, Levenvale-blood, 350kg, offered by S & S Horkings.
Giuseppe (Lee) Mallamaci, Reedy Creek, sold six Reiland blood, Angus steers, 424kg, to $2490, paid by Russel Matthews, Churnwood Range, Healesville, who purchased 36 steers in total for fattening.
Mr Mallamaci also sold 15 Angus heifers, 350kg, to $2400 or 686c/kg.
Repeat buyer of five years, Lyn Mullenn, Dixon Creek, purchased two pens of Hereford steers from Ian and Judi Marshman, Grumble Grumble, 392kg, and 615c/kg.
The Marshmans offered 89 Hereford steers for a draft average of $2187 or 647c/kg.
Ian Williamson, Williamson Pastoral Co, Taggerty, sold 51 Angus-cross steers, Connemara-blood, 347kg, to average $2142 or 617c/kg.