Stock Agents Association president Kieran Johnstone said the prices for the sale had been very good.

"The top pen in the open auction steers topped at $1080 for one seller and his next pen was $1050 so that was very good," Mr Johnstone said.

Heifers prices ranged from $2.70/kg up to a top of $3.16/kg, and 350kg/plus steers ranged between $3 to $3.22/kg.

Mr Johnstone said while the price of heavy steers was holding steady, prices for open auction steers and weighed heifers were strong.

"Cows and calves were also good with a top of $2025. I thought they sold exceptionally well along with the cross-bred steers," he said.

"It is a winter market so we have been happy with the numbers that have turned out."

Mr Johnstone said it was good to see the number of people at the sale remained strong.

"Some of the buying people were from south-east South Australia, Ballarat, Colac and a lot of local restockers," Mr Johnstone said.

SKB Rodwells auctioneer Josh McDonald said while there was a lift in the numbers, the quality of the cattle was still down after winter.

"It's a good winter sale, the numbers are higher then in the past few years," Mr McDonald said.

"The quality will come up over spring, lots of cattle have been held off to finish in the paddock.

"Younger cattle are going back into the paddocks for local buyers."

Hawkesdale farmer Blackie Lenehan was happy with the prices, selling two pens of Angus steers for the top prices of $1080 and $1050 in the open auction.

"They were probably 11 months old, so pretty happy with the way it went," Mr Lenehan said.

"We have looked after them pretty well because we knew they were the next to sell.

"They had the best of what we had, they got good hay across the winter.

"We are still a bit short of spring, so hopefully we keep getting good weather like this."

Southern Grampians Livestock agent Josh Lilley said the winter yarding of the cattle was reflected in the prices being lower then recent months.

"We have been trying to buy a few but nothing really suited me."

Corunnun hobby farmers Dylan and Jade Hay made the most of the late winter sun to keep a close eye on cattle prices at the Warrnambool store sale.

The pair said they were watching the prices as they hoped to grow their current herd of 14 Hereford beef cows and calves.

"We have friends with cows on offer at the sale, so we thought we would come up for a look," Mr Hay said.

"It is good to come along and keep an eye on the prices.

"Prices here are good, they seem to be holding strong.

"It is good that there is a bit of feed around at the moment."

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.