Western district agents yarded 5883 cattle at the Western Victoria Livestock Exchange in a sale which agents said was solid and featured "very good quality" cattle. The number of cattle traded was more than double the 2152 at Mortlake's first December store sale a fortnight earier, where small weaners hit a high of 800 cents per kilogram.

Western Victoria Livestock Exchange Agents' Association president Matt Sculley said the sale was very similar in terms of prices compared with the month's earlier sale.

"Grown steers sold to a similar rate of a fortnight ago but were no dearer, while grown heifers faced increased competition with more buyer support," Mr Sculley said.

He said grown heifers in some places were 20-30 cents a kilogram dearer compared to the previous store sale a fortnight ago.

The increase in overall quality was credited to more autumn 2020-drop calves on offer.

"In the steer section we didn't see the extreme highs of last fortnight's sale, but the overall breeding and quality was better which led to higher averages," Mr Sculley said.

Lal Lal's pen of 16 Angus weaner steers, which were also the best presented pen of steers at the sale, made a high of 628 cents per kilogram and returned more than $2700 a head.

"There was increased competition for weaner heifers with some amazing highs," Mr Sculley said.

"The Cherrymount Angus weaner heifers, also the best presented pen of heifers, sold for a top of 742c/kg, returning $2645."

"Friesian and crossbred steers sold extremely well, with a pen of light Friesian-cross steers on account of Serena Downs Pastoral selling for 718c/kg, returning $1235."

Mr Sculley said he was grateful for the support of vendors, buyers and agents during a challenging 12 months and noted the next store sale to return at Mortlake would be on January 6 for the centre's feature female sale.

Overall, 1770 weaner steers sold to a top price of 835c/kg to an average of 671c/kg while 645 weaner heifers sold to 748c/kg to an average of 655 cents.

RJ & JL Page sold the dearest pen of the sale on a cents a kilogram basis with eight Angus steers, 251kg, going under the hammer for 835c/kg or $2205.

PD Hallyburton sold the dearest pen of weaner heifers on a cents a kilogram basis with 31 Angus weaner heifers, 257kg, sold for 748c/kg or $1925.

Cow and calf units sold to a top price of $4200 for three Speckle Park units, consigned by GP & MM Collins, bought by an agent from South Gippsland.

Pregnancy-tested-in-calf heifers sold to a top price of $3200, consigned by Liewah Nominees Pty Ltd, to an agent at Camperdown.

Among the volume vendors was Greenwald Pastoral Company, Dartmoor, which sold 564 Angus weaner steers including a pen of 65 head, 399kg, for 640c/kg or $2555, 104 steers, 362kg, for 672c/kg or $2437, 15 steers, 339kg, for $708c/kg or $2404, and 20 steers, 365kg, for 660c/kg or $2361. Greenwald Pastoral Co also sold 140 steers, 328kg, for 728c/kg or $2393, and 106 steers, 306kg, for 752c/kg or $2307. Walter and Elise Dell, Nadoo Pastoral, were also among the volume vendor group with 123 cattle sold including grown heifers which sold to a top price of 584c/kg or $2235.