Coloured weaner cattle reached surprising prices at last Thursday's sale at Wangaratta with returns raising many eyebrows.

A total of 1771 head were sold at a collective value of $2.754 million.

This breaks down to 1032 steers averaging $4.98/kg, topping at $5.81/kg, with a low of $2.12/kg, for at total value of $1.699m.

Some 735 heifers were sold averaging $4.48/kg, topping at $5.16/kg, with a low of $1.17/kg, for a total value of $1.015m.

Corcoran and Parker livestock agent Reiley Murtagh said they were "remarkably surprised" at the prices for the coloured cattle as generally they are a fair way behind the black cattle.

"We had a very good presence there of northern buyers and local feedlots buying the cattle and paying very close to the black money, if not the same," he said.

"It was really good and rewarding for a lot of people who have stuck with breeding colours."

The standout was the McCormack Pastoral's Charolais heifers out of Mansfield and Mr Murtagh said the $5.16 was more than what agents have seen for black heifers going back to the paddock.

"It was a good result and I think they will be very happy," he said.

"Brooklyn Pastoral, the Reardon's coloured steers and heifers were very good."

Total yardage was down and Mr Murtagh had multiple calls from producers not wanting to send their cattle due temperatures soaring over 44 degrees Celsius.

"You have to look after the welfare of the cattle but even with the extreme heat it just shows how buoyant the market is and that people want them," Mr Murtagh said.

"Cattle are still holding their size and with the blue ribbon sales coming up they will be 8-9 month old weaners."

Tony Marchese yarded 98 in total and won the best presented pen of Hereford weaner steers, including 28 weighing 336kg, making $4.84/kg or $1630.

Vendor Total Head Breed Sex Avg. Wt. Unit Price Agency

LAWLESS R 9 HEREFORD STEER 545 1150 NUTRIEN LIVESTOCK

FLETCHER FARMING 15 ANGUS STEER 449.33 1265 AUSTRALIAN WOOL NETWORK

Robert & Lorraine Bariola 2 ANGUS STEER 462.5 1220 AUSTRALIAN WOOL NETWORK

CLEAL SJ & EM 7 ANGUS STEER 435.71 1240 NUTRIEN LIVESTOCK

EUMERALLA ANGUS 1 ANGUS STEER 610 1500 CORCORAN PARKER

VINCENT KT & GR 3 ANGUS STEER 416.67 1100 AUSTRALIAN WOOL NETWORK

EUMERALLA ANGUS 1 ANGUS STEER 415 1110 CORCORAN PARKER

GROUNDS T 1 ANGUS STEER 480 1290 AUSTRALIAN WOOL NETWORK

SHANLEY PETER 2 ANGUS STEER 460 1280 NUTRIEN LIVESTOCK

TRENKNER L & SA 1 ANGUS STEER 400 1180 NUTRIEN LIVESTOCK

NAUGHTIN C 9 ANGUS STEER 415 1210 ELDERS

HOGAN D & M 1 BLACK BALDY STEER 470 1240 ELDERS

HOLMES AP & RF 12 ANGUS X STEER 400.42 1160 AUSTRALIAN WOOL NETWORK

DINNING AJ & CA 17 ANGUS STEER 361.47 1170 CORCORAN PARKER

BLACKBURN BELINDA 10 MIXED STEER 408.5 1220 ELDERS

COOK A & L 13 ANGUS STEER 361.92 1230 ELDERS

LARKIN DP 7 ANGUS STEER 411.43 1100 ELDERS

COLLINS G D 9 ANGUS STEER 332.22 1030 ELDERS

BLEWETT NJ 16 ANGUS STEER 330.63 1050 AUSTRALIAN WOOL NETWORK

BONNIE BANKS PASTORAL 19 ANGUS STEER 306.05 1060 AUSTRALIAN WOOL NETWORK

MANCINICO PTY LTD 24 MIXED STEER 305.42 1140 NUTRIEN LIVESTOCK

Gibson, Julia 7 ANGUS STEER 425 1240 CORCORAN PARKER

MANCINICO PTY LTD 13 ANGUS STEER 287.57 1050 NUTRIEN LIVESTOCK

MANCINICO PTY LTD 15 ANGUS STEER 249.23 1050 NUTRIEN LIVESTOCK

MANCINICO PTY LTD 4 ANGUS STEER 267.03 1050 NUTRIEN LIVESTOCK

FLANIGAN PASTORAL CO PTY LTD 1 ANGUS STEER 400 1040 CORCORAN PARKER

WHITE GC & JK 7 ANGUS STEER 307.14 1010 NUTRIEN LIVESTOCK

COOK A & L 5 ANGUS STEER 299 1060 ELDERS

MASON RE & ME 11 SHORTHORN STEER 358.18 1110 ELDERS

STONE RUSSELL 6 ANGUS X STEER 426.67 1030 CORCORAN PARKER

Robert & Lorraine Bariola 2 ANGUS STEER 245 1040 AUSTRALIAN WOOL NETWORK

UNTHANK T 4 ANGUS STEER 263.75 1005 ELDERS

GROUNDS T 1 SPECKLE PARK STEER 490 1050 AUSTRALIAN WOOL NETWORK

THOMPSON SCOTT 1 ANGUS X STEER 540 1050 CORCORAN PARKER

Vendor Total Head Breed Sex Avg. Wt. Unit Price Agency

BACKLUND ROSS 4 HEREFORD HEIFER 497.5 1100 NUTRIEN LIVESTOCK

BACKLUND ROSS 7 HEREFORD HEIFER 421.43 1000 NUTRIEN LIVESTOCK

CARROLL TJ & VK 4 HEREFORD HEIFER 430 850 AUSTRALIAN WOOL NETWORK

EUMERALLA ANGUS 7 ANGUS HEIFER 428.13 1030 CORCORAN PARKER

MORRIS JR 3 ANGUS HEIFER 406.67 940 CORCORAN PARKER

EUMERALLA ANGUS 8 ANGUS HEIFER 376.88 940 CORCORAN PARKER

VINCENT KT & GR 8 ANGUS HEIFER 433.75 910 AUSTRALIAN WOOL NETWORK

TALI NESSELROTH - SILVA 3 ANGUS HEIFER 255 850 AUSTRALIAN WOOL NETWORK

STONE RUSSELL 4 ANGUS HEIFER 397.5 900 CORCORAN PARKER

LARKIN DP 5 ANGUS HEIFER 392.5 920 ELDERS

FLANIGAN PASTORAL CO PTY LTD 13 ANGUS HEIFER 341.54 800 CORCORAN PARKER

COLLINS G D 13 ANGUS HEIFER 318.85 840 ELDERS

TRENKNER L & SA 8 ANGUS HEIFER 367.5 920 NUTRIEN LIVESTOCK

DUNN P 10 BLACK BALDY HEIFER 306.5 820 CORCORAN PARKER

COOK A & L 8 ANGUS HEIFER 311.25 835 ELDERS

WHITE GC & JK 5 ANGUS HEIFER 315 780 NUTRIEN LIVESTOCK

MCKENZIE V 9 BLACK BALDY HEIFER 331.11 785 ELDERS

MCKENZIE V 5 BLACK BALDY HEIFER 344 830 ELDERS

MANCINICO PTY LTD 22 ANGUS HEIFER 299.77 770 NUTRIEN LIVESTOCK

HOGAN D & M 1 CHAROLAIS X HEIFER 380 810 ELDERS

HOGAN D & M 1 ANGUS HEIFER 405 820 ELDERS

Vendor Total Head Breed Sex Avg. Wt. Unit Price Agency

MORRIS JR 12 ANGUS COW & CALF 590.42 2300 CORCORAN PARKER

MORRIS JR 10 ANGUS COW & CALF 553.5 2240 CORCORAN PARKER

MORRIS JR 9 ANGUS COW & CALF 521.11 2100 CORCORAN PARKER

MORRIS JR 7 ANGUS COW & CALF 625 2000 CORCORAN PARKER

MORRIS JR 7 ANGUS COW & CALF 540.71 2050 CORCORAN PARKER

CONROY JRM 6 ANGUS COW & CALF 587.5 2200 CORCORAN PARKER

Vendor Total Head Breed Sex Avg. Wt. Unit Price Agency

MORRIS JR 12 ANGUS COW & CALF 590.42 2300 CORCORAN PARKER

MORRIS JR 10 ANGUS COW & CALF 553.5 2240 CORCORAN PARKER

MORRIS JR 9 ANGUS COW & CALF 521.11 2100 CORCORAN PARKER

MORRIS JR 7 ANGUS COW & CALF 625 2000 CORCORAN PARKER

MORRIS JR 7 ANGUS COW & CALF 540.71 2050 CORCORAN PARKER

MORRIS JR 3 ANGUS COW & CALF 494 1520 CORCORAN PARKER

MORRIS JR 2 ANGUS COW & CALF 494 1520 CORCORAN PARKER

CONROY JRM 6 ANGUS COW & CALF 587.5 2200 CORCORAN PARKER

GORDON C&C 7 ANGUS X COW & CALF 500 1640 ELDERS

GORDON C&C 1 ANGUS X COW & CALF 685 1640 ELDERS

LACEY B 1 ANGUS COW & CALF 590 1600 CORCORAN PARKER

PARTON JH & TM 1 ANGUS COW & CALF 580 1480 AUSTRALIAN WOOL NETWORK

CONROY JRM 1 RED COW & CALF 590 1720 CORCORAN PARKER

CONROY JRM 1 SPECKLE PARK COW & CALF 590 1800 CORCORAN PARKER

STEPHENS MR & NL T/A BILLABONG PARK 6 ANGUS X COW & CALF 399.17 1550 CORCORAN PARKER

Glenwood Park Angus Stud 2 ANGUS COW 785 1550 CORCORAN PARKER

Glenwood Park Angus Stud 1 ANGUS COW 785 1740 CORCORAN PARKER