Bull Oak Well Angus reached its highest ever top price at its annual sale at Willalooka on Thursday after first-time buyers paid $17,000 for a quality sire.
The stud sold 39 out of 41 bulls offered, averaging $6167.
Bull Oak Well Complement was bought by Mundulla producers Colin Muster and Dion Morris for $17,000.
Sired by EF Complement 8088, Bull Oak Well Complement weighed 902 kilograms and had a 43 centimetre scrotal circumference.
Its Angus Breedplan figures also included a +6.4 eye muscle area, +0.7 for rib fat and +101 for 400-day growth and +133 for 600-day.
As first-time buyers at the stud, Mr Muster said he was attracted to Bull Oak Well's concentration on breeding bulls with quality docility and eye muscle area figures.
"We use a variety of genetics each year but we always look for the top bull at most sales," he said.
"We viewed Bull Oak Well Complement at the field days and we knew he was the pick of the litter."
The top sire will be used over Angus heifers in April.
Mr Muster also secured another bull for $8000.
Stud principal Heath Nickolls said he was extremely happy with the sale result.
"The bidding was a lot stronger than we thought because of the season," he said.
"The top end bulls surpassed our expectations - the calving ease bulls and Compliments as a sire group sold and presented really well."
Mr Nickolls said the top price bull also had the phenotype and figures "that you just could not knock back."
"It had good growth for age, its temperament was outstanding and it had great feet," he said.
Bull Oak Well Newsline N27 made the second-highest price of $11,000 and it was knocked down to Lake Ellen Pastoral, Tintinara.
The 21-month-old weighed 900kg and boasted a 48cm scrotal circumference.
Sired by Black Angus Newsline B37, it had +8.7EMA and +93 for 400-day growth and +125 for 600-day.
Amherst Livestock, Willalooka, were the sale volume buyer after securing five bulls to $8500, averaging $6500.
Amherst's Ian Johnson has been a return buyer at Bull Oak Well for more than five years because the bulls had consistency, longevity and helped to produce quality calves.
"They are the type of bull we like to buy and they last - the genetics have continued to perform for us so we will continue to support Heath and what he does," he said.
Mr Johnson runs 5000 Angus cows and had sourced bulls from multiple south-east studs this month.
DH Prosser & Son, Marcollat, through Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn and Steen bought four bulls to $7000, averaging $6500, and PW & KM Bryson, Padthaway, bought three bulls all for $4000.
The sale was conducted by Spence Dix & Co, Keith, and PPHS Naracoorte.