Feedlot demand bolstered competition at Mortlake last Friday as 1958 cattle were yarded for the annual store weaner sale.
Prices eased slightly on some lines of cattle as hot conditions contributed to a smaller yarding than initially anticipated earlier in the week.
Mortlake Stock Agents Association president and Charles Stewart Nash and McVilly manager Alister Nash said the sale was consistent considering environmental impacts such as the drought and fires across parts of Victoria.
"The Moyne Falls cattle were going to be prepared on the Monday, that 40 degree day, but they cancelled and we had a few other lots cancel due to plenty of feed in the paddock and the drop in price," Mr Nash said.
Overall, agents said heifer prices were cheaper compared to a month ago, ranging on average between 255-260 cents a kilogram for females above 330 kilograms.
"Once the heifers came under 320kg there was a 10-15c/kg drop off ... but we didn't a heap of heifers here," Mr Nash said.
Steers 400kg-plus made between 296-320c/kg, similar to the 350-400kg steers, which made between 282-321c/kg.
Steers between 300-350kg made 293-332c/kg while lighter steers under 300kg topped the market at 295-333c/kg.
The top pen of steers, 297kg, owned by John Howard, Grassmere, sold for $989 a head or 333c/kg.
"The Black Baldy steers didn't alter much from 295-304c/kg, Herefords had a 10c/kg drop off from 281c/kg to 291c/kg, but once again there were not a lot of them and a handful of Charolais calves made 280-285c/kg," Mr Nash said.
"There was a 10-15c/kg premium for European Union-eligible cattle but there wasn't a lot of them but the cattle that were EU did sell particularly well."
Elders Mortlake livestock manager Bruce Redpath said he thought heifers would have fetched 10-12c/kg more.
"We got out of this very well today considering the pressure that's on the whole of the rural industry either with drought or fire and the dry season has hit us of late," Mr Redpath said.
"Some restockers bought some of those well-known lines of cattle but the main competition was from the feedlotters, especially for the EU cattle to put out on grass to grow to the feedlot weights they like to put them in."
Southern Grampians Livestock and Real Estate agent Glenn Judd held similar views, expecting cattle to make slightly higher prices.
"We expected the weaners to be a bit dearer ... but they came out well considering how dry it is from Mortlake up north," Mr Judd said.
"With the dry and with the numbers that could come on the scene because of the fires alone, without worrying about the cattle that are ready to sell, I think the market could ease a bit."
Landmark Hamilton livestock manager Sam Savin said his steers sold well and made what he expected.
"Heifers were cheaper but the heifers with weight that were going to feedlots and better bred heifers were good, but those lighter cattle were tough," Mr Savin said.
