Demand was solid at the first of the Birregurra young cattle cattle sales, near Colac, Vic, on Monday.
While prices had picked up on last year, they remained reasonable at up to 10c/kg dearer on the heavier end of steers.
Still, cattle showed the signs of the season and lacked some of the bloom of last year's, according to Terry Dove, Charles Stewart Dove, Colac.
But with recent rain lifting hopes and competition generated by buyers from the north, feedlotters and processors, agents skipped through the penning of about 3000 head.
The result was “definitely better than last year's”, according to Mr Dove who said that rainfall across Australia and green feed had lifted spirits and encouraged operators to buy back in.
The strong sale rates saw prices rise 18 points above the last declared eastern young cattle indicator of 336.50 cents a kilogram on December 22.
The heavier end of steers received the biggest gains at about 180-190 cents a kilogram, or 10c/kg dearer according to Peter McConachie, Charles Stewart, Colac.
He estimated that the mid-range of calves, from 300-340kg sold from 190-200c/kg and the 250-300kg batch from 190-205c/kg.
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