The 1538 steers sold to $750 and averaged $617, with steers estimated at 250-360kg making from 204-250c, while lighter weight steers made 225-269c.

Overall, the Angus steers at Omeo on Tuesday averaged 224c/kg, +35c on Tuesday’s EYCI.

NLRS markets reporter Peter Kostos said prices averaged 25-30c liveweight higher than last year.

The $750 top priced steers were offered by Gus and John Crisp, Omeo.

The biggest vendors were Frank and Dawn Boulton of Gelantipy who trucked in 151 Angus and black baldy steers which sold $720 and averaged $626.

Black Mountain Station, Wulgulmerang, also sent over a consignment of 147 Angus steers which averaged $631.

About 1250 heifers were sold.

Mr Kostos described these as being in forward store condition, with a smaller number of plainer grades and lighter weights sold. Heifer weaners made an estimated 174-219c to average 196c, with the bulk of the offering 200-280kg. These made 179-216c.

A large line of 381 Angus and black baldy heifers were sold by Frank and Dawn Boulton at an average of $514.

AC and NH Smith got the highest heifer price of the sale of $610.

Mr Kostos pointed out that a trip to the high country at this time of year normally sees brown paddocks. In recent years these paddocks have been very bare because of drought.

However from both West and South Gippsland right through to Benambra the paddocks are green. The high country has the most grass.

But last winter was one of the toughest and there was a late spring. Most thought the calves at the Omeo black sale would have weighed lighter than usual, with a fair percentage in store to forward store condition.

The rain in NSW and Qld certainly helped the sale with a big order for Coonamble through Andrew Talbot of Elders Tamworth.

There was a large gallery of buyers from Warrambool in the south west of Victoria to Moree in the north.