BACKGROUNDERS and lotfeeders went for the heavy pens at the last of the Ballarat feature weaner sales today, pushing rates for 400 kilogram-plus steers to a staggering 195c/kg.

Most heavy weaner steers however made from 180c/kg to 190c/kg with weaners down around the 300kg-mark making to 200c/kg, Landmark's Xavier Shanahan said.

Belsize Park topped the market with a pen of 20 Angus, 16-18 months, Banquet blood and 418kg, selling for $815 (195c/kg).

Mr Shanahan said demand for well-bred heifers was also clearly stronger with few very pens returning to breeders and the bulk instead going to lotfeeders and backgrounders.

"Lots of people have sold their leading heifers too, so what that says for the industry, we're not sure," Mr Shanahan said.

While lotfeeders cleaned up on the heavy steers and heifers, commission buyers with orders from northern NSW backgrounders were hard to beat on the weaner steers.

Jimmy Matthews paid an average of $600 for his 320 weaner steers, from 300 to 340kg, all for backgrounders near Coonamble in NSW.

"At 190c/kg for 400kg-plus pens, the market was clearly dearer for heavy steers, equal for weaner steers and dearer again for light cattle," Mr Matthews said.

Simon Arundell from Colac was on hand to see his 30 Angus steers, 11-12 months, Bushy Park blood, 316kg, sell for $600 or 190c/kg.

"It's a good price on the day, but the overall prices are not good enough to entice children back on to the farm," Mr Arundell said.

Mr Arundell's 44 Angus heifers of the same description and 319kg sold for $585 or 183c/kg.

Graham and Lois Findlay were also pleased with their result of $660 or 187c/kg for their 15 Angus steers, 11-12 months, Franc blood and 353kg.

"It's a similar price to other years that we've sold here," Mr Findlay said.

In the heifer sale, heavy grown pens sold to a top per head of $745 for 8 Angus, 14-16 months, Lawsons blood and 461kg. This returned 161c/kg.

Terry Ginnane of Landmark Leongatha bought 200 steers and heifers and thought heavy heifers faired the best.

"The feedlots put a huge floor in the heifer market, if we weren't buying ours to join, we wouldn't have been able to compete," Mr Ginnane said.

Mr Ginnane was forced up to 182c/kg to secure one pen of 10 Angus heifers, 348kg, from Erinsvale, for a Gippsland breeder.

Ben Davis from T&R Meat Co, bought 82 steers and 87 heifers for an average of 185c/kg and 170c/kg respectively.

Mr Davis quoted the market "a shade dearer but to be expected on recent market trends".