Strong restocker competition and support from other parts of Gippsland made for a buoyant fortnightly store sale at Bairnsdale on Friday.
The four agencies combined yarded about 1200 at the "grass-driven market" where feedlot activity was minimal, agents said.
South and West Gippsland agents were active while a large portion of female cattle were retained locally for breeding.
COVID-19 restrictions contributed to a smaller crowd with only a handful of vendors present as professional buyers and agents representing prospective purchasers made up the crowd.
Light weaner calves steer under 250 kilograms sold above 460 cents a kilogram while feeder steers and heifers ranged from 340-370c/kg, up to 400c/kg, agents said.
Elders Bairnsdale livestock manager Morgan Davies said people attending the market adjusted well to the pandemic restrictions.
"We had a lot of cattle stay local because the season is hanging on here in East Gippsland which is creating a lot of positivity," Mr Davies said.
"It's drying off in the Alps but locally in East Gippsland around Bairnsdale it's pretty good so there's a fair bit of confidence about."
Hopkins River Beef, which operates a feedlot at Dunkeld, was active during the sale as were agents acting on behalf of South Gippsland bullock fatteners.
A feature of the market included 110 Medowra Angus, Licola, cattle including a top pen of 17 steers, 357kg, for $1410 or 394c/kg.
Its second pen of 20 steers, 314kg, sold for $1340 or 426c/kg and then their third pen of 18, 257kg, sold for $1240 or 482c/kg.
Selling agent Sharp Fullgrabe director Graeme Fullgrabe said calves increased in cents a kilogram as they became lighter in weight.
There was a large influx of NSW cattle to the sale, including from places such as Delegate, Eden and Bega.
Boydtown Pastoral Company, Eden, dispersed their Angus cows and calves due to the poor season and the recent bushfires.
Eleven cows with calves at foot sold for $2100, nine cows with calves at foot made $2000 and six cows and calves at foot fetched $2050.
Nutrien Ag Solutions East Gippsland livestock manager Brad Obst described the sale as a "grass-driven market" due to the limited feedlot activity.
Meanwhile, Bill Wyndham & Co livestock agent Gerard Ogilvie said an order for weaner heifers bound for Gunnedah, NSW, strengthened demand on female cattle.
T Robinson, Paynesville, sold eight Charolais steers, 576kg, for $1810 or 314c/kg.
K Bryant, Buchan South, sold 11 Angus steers, 475kg, for $1610 or 338c/kg.
Omeo Pastoral sold seven Hereford steers, 477kg, for $1580 or 331c/kg.
BA Llewellyn, Orbost, sold 15 Angus Black Baldy steers, 298kg, for $1290 or 432c/kg.
S Pederson, Benambra, sold 20 Hereford steers including two heavy steers for $2065 and $1770. His remaining 18 steers, 427kg, made $1420 or 332c/kg.
BS Dyer, Benambra, sold 17 steers, 360kg, for $1390 or 332c/kg.
RA and KI Reid, Delegate, NSW, sold 16 steers, 427kg, for $1420 or 332c/kg.
They also sold nine six-month-old Angus calves, 220kg, for $1030 or 468c/kg.
M and A Kember, Bega, NSW, sold 15 Limousin heifers, 305kg, for $1150 or 377c/kg.
K and P Whelan, Swan Reach, sold six Angus heifers, 335kg, for $1180 or 352c/kg.
Castleburn Station, Castleburn, sold 11 Angus steers, 285kg, for $1290 of 452c/kg.
RC McMahon, Dargo, sold 12 heifers, 278kg, for $1110 or 395c/kg.
DL and GL Baird, Orbost, sold 13 heifers, 300kg, for $1100 or 366c/kg.
Mick Robinson, Delegate, NSW, sold eight heifers, 382kg, for $1280 or 335c/kg.
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