STORE cattle sales are set to resume at Mortlake and Warrnambool saleyards after they were halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Operators and agents intend to introduce a range of social distancing restrictions in line with efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19.
At Mortlake, about 2000 cattle will be offered at the Western Victoria Livestock Exchange on April 16.
Warrnambool agents will resume their monthly store sale on April 24 after the March sale was cancelled.
Warrnambool Stock Agents' Association president Anthony Mahony said the monthly Friday sale was a goer. "We are definitely back on," Mr Mahony said.
"We are just going to follow the protocols which have been widely publicised."
Mr Mahony said the market would use the "checkerboard system" and only yard cattle in every second pen.
In central Victoria, Ballarat agents are preparing to draw for 2500 store cattle on April 17 after postponing their 3000-head female sale in March due to coronavirus concerns.
The resumption of sales comes as Thursday's fortnightly Victorian Livestock Exchange sale at Leongatha resumes after agents agreed to cap the sale at 2000 head.
South Gippsland Stock Agents' Association president Rob Ould said non-essential spectators would be turned away during the sale.
"We will have an hour-long viewing from 8.30am where farmers and restockers can come and view the cattle and give instructions to a commission buyer or agent and then they will have to leave," Mr Ould said.
