Numbers are continuing to rise at some saleyards across the state, with an influx of cattle from bushfire and drought affected areas hitting the market.
Wagga Wagga yarded 4120 cattle on Monday, numbers up by 480 on last week's sale which was the first for the year.
Elders livestock agent, Joe Wilks said all Wagga agents saw cattle come in from bushfire affected regions, including Adelong, Batlow and Tumbarumba, as well as Cobargo and Bega towards the coast.
"A lot of producers were selling the weaners they had planned to grow out but they have no feed in front of them now," Mr Wilks said.
Mr Wilks said there were also some breeders on offer from bushfire affected producers, increasing the quality of the yarding, while a lot of the local stock were coming in due to a lack of water.
"Water is becoming a very big issue now, producers' weren't necessarily happy to feed but it's a lot easier to feed than it is to cart water," Mr Wilks said.
Despite the jump in numbers Mr Wilks said prices rose across the board.
"There were 400kg to 450kg Angus steers that made 315 cents a kilogram, they were making 280c/kg the week before," Mr Wilks said.
MLA's National Livestock Reporting Service said well-bred lines of weaner steers returning to the paddock, 200kg to 280kg, gained 76c/kg to average 285c/kg.
Mr Wilks said more buyers returned to the saleyards this week and there were some larger restocker orders from the south.
The Carcoar saleyards also recorded a leap in prices, while the yarding remained fairly steady with 2630 head, down from 2730 last sale.
McCarron Cullinane livestock agent, Lindsay Fryer said the market was 20c/kg to 40c/kg dearer, pushing prices back to where they were before Christmas.
"The buyers were back at work this week, the first sale back we were missing many of them and the market fell dramatically," Mr Fryer said.
"This week feeder steers weighing about 400kg to 430kg were making up to 323c/kg."
Mr Fryer hoped prices would now steadily rise each week, however if the forecast rain didn't eventuate, the saleyards could continue to attract large numbers.
"We're dry, we badly need this rain, if it doesn't come through we'll line up with just as many cattle next week," Mr Fryer said.
Casino livestock agent, Allen Ramsey of Ramsey and Bulmer said he usually expected a rise in numbers at their second sale of the year but the chance of rain could hold some cattle off the market.
Last week the Casino saleyards opened with 919 cattle, up by 545 head. Mr Ramsey said export cattle prices were on par to where they finished last year, while trade cattle sold 3c/kg to 5c/kg dearer.