"That roughly comes back at about 183c/kg, so you have to be happy with that," Mr Horn said. "There might have been a fraction more for these bigger steers on a couple of weeks ago when the feedlots were really active, but this market is still strong."

The 24 to 30-month-old steers sold to Bowenfels Pastor-al, Goomeri. A second pen of slightly lighter 24 to 28-month-olds sold for $865, also about 183c/kg, Mr Horn estimated.

The Horns' quality, forward store steers topped Shepherdson and Boyd's 1877- head Toogoolawah cattle sale, where restockers were looking to take advantage of the best seasonal conditions over much of Queensland in decades.

However, Mr Horn said they were still looking for rain on Springburn.

"There is plenty of grass everywhere but we are still chasing a bit of run-off rain to fill the dams," Mr Horn said.

One feedlot active at the Toogoolawah sale was Smithfield, Proston. General manager Jason Shearer-Smith said he was expecting to induct some 2500 cattle this week, mainly sourced from Central Queensland, in addition to his Toogoolawah purchases.

Currently there are about 11,000 head in the 20,000-head capacity Smithfield feedlot.

"The load limits are off most roads now, and people can get out and muster," Mr Shearer-Smith said.

"We should see a lot more cattle coming forward now it has dried out."

Brisbane Valley grazier Charles Burke, Stanley House, Lake Somerset, said many producers were assessing the value of cattle as stores rather than waiting for them to reach meatworks weights.

"This store market is strong in comparison to the slaughter market, and producers are taking advantage of that," Mr Burke said. The next Toogoolawah cattle sale will be held on April 9.