A large and eager contingent of South Gippsland bullock finishers were brushed aside as lot feeders staked their claim on the heavier weighted cattle at Ballarat's annual grown and weaner steer market held Friday.

In fact, feedlots and northern-placed backgrounders seized at least half of the 4700 steers penned which was described by local agents as possibly the best quality yarding ever assembled at the centre.

Grown steers on the day were sold mostly between 168 to 182c/kg (live), averaging 175c/kg, while the vast majority of the weaner yarding, which also offered plenty of weight, sold beween $550 and $660, before topping at $715.

This equated to roughly 187c/kg as only a handful of the weaner yarding was offered displaying a known liveweight.

Northern interstate orders were placed from Walcha, Coonamble, Tamworth, Gunnedah, Mudgee and Gundagai, while feedlots from South Australia and Bunnaloo, NSW, were the most active on the grown steer section of the yarding.

More details to come in Stock & Land's February 25 print edition.