There was a large yarding of 1300 good quality calves at the Braidwood Annual Weaner Sale on Friday.
Gibbs Livestock and Property principal Greg Darmody said they were over the moon with the results, weaner steers selling to a top of $1610 per head.
"It was strong right through all the grades but it was the British breed cattle for backgrounding and bullock growing which was where the top money was," Mr Darmody said.
The market was topped by account Neale Lavis, Strathallan Stud, Braidwood who offered 150 Angus and Angus cross 10 to 12 month old mixed-sex calves with Dunoon and Roskin blood, his top line of 21 steers, weighing 360kg, selling for $1610.
Michael Bunn, Braidwood sold three Speckle Park steers, 20 to 22-months weighing 458kg for $1600.
Spring Range Partnership, Bungendore offered 12 Murray Grey heifers, 14 to 16 months, 404kg, which sold for $1560.
At the lighter end of the sale, Will Jeffreys, Delgate Station, Delgate sold 17 Angus steers, nine to 10 months, 192kg, for $1040 or 542c/kg.
Wincradon Pastoral, Roseview, Tarago sold 26 Angus heifers, nine to 10 months, 278kg for $1240. The account offered 170 Angus weaners in total.
The sale was interfaced with AuctionsPlus, and Mr Darmody said online bidders came away with around nine lots and did a significant amount of the assistance buying.
Calves went to Leongatha in Gippsland, Albury and to the South West Slopes, with good competition from localised buyers as well.
Mr Darmody said it was great to see producers who had held on to their calves reaping the rewards.
"Earlier in the year, with the dry and the bushfires, the cattle weren't crash hot back but then after a fantastic break some people thought they would hang on and it's really paid off well for them," Mr Darmody said.
"They've really pushed the weight up to good levels, there was a lot of pretty smart 10-month old calves weighing around 280kg."
He said they had been expecting 700 to 800 head but the numbers kept coming in.
"Quite a few people who would have usually held on to their bottom calves decided to take the money instead."