A three-week break between sales saw stock numbers at the Victorian Livestock Exchange centres at Pakenham and Leongatha swell to near capacity.
Nutrien Ag Solutions livestock auctioneer Brian McCormack said the break was one of three drivers behind the record Leongatha yarding of about 5500 head last week.
"It was three weeks since our last sale, the second thing was prices and the third being the time of the year," Mr McCormack said.
"Our top price was $3500 [a head] for 664-kilogram steers or 527 cents a kilogram."
"A lot of the cattle that were there, other than a few runs of vendor-bred, weaner lines, normally come at this time of the year.
"There was an outstanding run of 400-600kg steers.
"The grass fattener has done what he can with them, so now it's up to the grain feeder to do what he wants."
Mr McCormack said numbers would start to ease as winter progressed, but the next yarding was still likely to be substantial.
He said prices were dearer than the last sale.
"There are shortages everywhere else of those types of feeder cattle, there was a full contingent of feedlot and northern buyers," he said.
He said the quality was outstanding.
"We are now sourcing cattle from a bigger area - they are coming to Leongatha, which is getting renowned for quality cattle," he said.
"Now the right cattle, to do the right job, are there."
At Pakenham, Alex Scott & Staff livestock manager David Setches said the yarding was among the largest ever seen at the centre.
Agents yarded just over 4600 head of cattle.
"There were some great drafts of feeder cattle - once again the feedlots underpinned the sales of the 400-450kg steers, which were exceptional," Mr Setches said.
"The heavier end of the feedlot steers were on fire."
He said 400-450kg cattle topped at 645c/kg, while 600kg plus stock made 500c/kg and above.
"With the weather turning cold we haven't had that good break down here, with a bit of rain and growth coming into winter," he said.
"The money is too good.
"I think people have opted to sell while the job is as good as it is."
He anticipated the feeder end of the market would remain strong.
"I think they are wanting to secure numbers for throughput, cattle are making good money to go out a feeder weight," he said.
"It gives producers the confidence to go out and buy younger weaner calves and that all should hold up, pretty well I would imagine."
Brian Unthank Rural livestock agent Michael Unthank said there wasn't a big crowd at Barnawartha.
"The job was as good, if not a little bit better [as last sale]," Mr Unthank said.
"Everyone had a few orders in their pockets, feedlotters and grass finishers - there were a few local blokes and the upper Murray was very strong, once again."
Agents yarded about 2200 head of cattle.
Mr Unthank said the 300-400kg Angus steer calves made between 600c/kg for heavier animals to 640-700c/kg for lighter weights.
He said there were "extra" cattle in the yarding, "but I think supply is going to be a bit restricted over the next few months".
He said agents filled orders for producers across the state and as far north as Coonamble, NSW.
Andrew Miller
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
