ANGUS heifers on the point of calving sold to $1530 at Ballarat today.

A top price of $1530, one of the highest seen at Ballarat in more than a decade, was achieved on two pens of 40 Langi Kal Kal Angus heifers.

The buyer of both pens was the Webb Black Simmental stud from Glenburn.Langi Kal Kal farm manager Matthew Menhennet said the price was incredible.

"The best we have had here in five years was $1310," Mr Menhennet said.

The prices for most of the joined heifers were about $100 up on last year and set the tone for a very buoyant Ballarat feature female yarding of 3300 cows, heifers and calves.More than 150 joined heifers topped $1000.

Competition was also keen for joined heifers for either immediate slaughter or finisihing, although it was a pen of weaner Angus heifers which topped  the market.

Tony Monkovitch buyer for Kyneton Processor paid $700 or $2.03/kg for Brett Stewart's 23 Wimmera Downs 339kg Angus weaners from Stawell.

Mr Monkovitch said the processor wanted the heifers to cover a shortfall.Apart from this top pen, Mr Monkovitch was paying 170-180c/kg for suitably finished heifers.

Radfords of Warragul were likewise in a similar situation finding suitable domestic cattle. 

Radford buyer Ron Goff bought nearly 100 heifers. Older heifers, up to 20 months sold to a top of $645 at rates from 155-170c/kg.

Demand for the autumn 2009-drop heifers was driven in several quarters, including Wodonga commission buyer Duncan Brown who was buying for two backgrounders including one from Balaranald.

Mr Brown said the heavy rain in southern NSW had encouraged the orders.

Although Mr Brown said he thought the prices were on a par with the rates paid at Euroa last week.

Mark Randell of the South Australian processor T&R was also paying 165-170 for heifers for backgrounding.Gerry White of TB White said it was first time in the recent years that he had seen T&R at the Ballarat sale.

Mr White said the sale was well beyond expectations which he believed was due to recent rains a looming shortage of suitable stock.

He said it augered well for Ballarat feature weaner steer yarding of 4500 next week.