The first sale of the season is not usually held until early March but was brought forward to allow farmers battling against continued dry weather to destock cattle to interested buyers.

Steers, heifers and calves were all on display at the Powranna selling complex and had interest from interstate buyers.

The best presented pen of the day went to Northern farmer Eric Nicholls, who won with 70 steers.

Mr Nicholls said he was happy with the price fetched for his animals.

"I knew they were good calves so I expected they'd fetch a good price," he said.

Mr Nicholls, 78, operates a 400-head farm on the East Coast, about 20 kilometres from Bridport.

The dry weather had forced Mr Nicholls' hand in his need to sell the steers.

"I had made the decision that I was going to sell them, the rains we had about a fortnight ago was great," he said.

"I probably could have kept them, but I had already decided."

The Powranna yearling sale was held on Thursday at the sale complex, Powranna Road. It was hosted by Roberts and Elders.