STEERS and heifers sold to lacklustre demand at Warrnambool.

The large yarding of 2400 head - up significantly on the 1500 cattle advertised - produced a 10-20c/kg dip in rates compared with the previous weaner sale earlier this month.

However the two markets cannot be directly compared because the cattle were generally lower quality than the stock presented at the weaner sale a fortnight ago.

Weaner steers sold to 222c/kg but as low as 170c/kg on heavier grown steers. Heifers ranged from 180-200c/kg on the better lines of weaners.

John and Cath Crothers, Wangoom, sold nine Charolais-Murray Grey steers, 364kg, for 222c/kg or $808.

The weaned steers were nine months old.

John said they "sold ok, but we were a bit worried earlier on in the sale where the heavy steers were making 170c/kg but it picked up a bit as it went on."

John and Rosie Winter, Yambuk also sold Charolais-cross heifers to good rates.

Their 309kg heifers fetched 198c/kg or $611, bought for a south west restocker.Kevin McElgunn, Crossley bought 17 Hereford heifers, sold by Narrawhurret for 181c/kg or $756.

"They will be joined and I'll keep them on as breeders," Kevin said.

"I expected to pay something like that today."

Sam Hines, Tochra Farms, sold 91 mixed sex Angus and Angus-Charolais weaners today.

He said his best calves today sold to rates that were comparable with the 69 he sold at the weaner sale a fortnight prior.

However, his second-run today were down $25/head.

His best pen of 18 unweighed Te Mania-blood Angus steers fetched $720, aged eight to nine months and his best 25 Angus heifers, unweighed and the same age made $630.

A further 13 Charolais heifers from the Hines properties, nine months and unweighed made $550.

Saffin Kerr Bowen Wilson's Glenn Judd said the quality of the cattle was back on the previous Warrnambool sale.

His company yarded 1000 head for today's market and he and other SKBW agents were active buying steers and heifers for about four local clients.

He said local demand was reasonably strong.

"Prices were 10-15c/kg down on the last sale on steers but heifers were not as much affected, they were maybe 5c/kg cheaper," he said.

Bidders came from the local south west Victoria region, meat company buyers and some feedlot interest.

Albury commission buyer Duncan Brown was also in the mix, buying for two clients, one at Ovens Valley and one "near Wodonga", he said.

"They will go on to feedlots later," he said.

"The prices are not that much different to last week."

Commission buyer Mick Kemp was filling orders for several meat companies.

He bought a few for S Kidman and Co's feedlot as well as cattle for processors Hardwicks, Collinson and Radford Meats.

J&J Kelly's Jack Kelly said the sale, although not directly comparable to the weaner sale, had "come off the boil".

But prices were still reasonable and reflected the fact that prime markets were softer and pastures were drying off, he said.