Sale averages are forecast to mirror last year's levels of $4500 to $5000 with producers recognising the value of having an extra bid or two for herd-improving sires.

Meat & Livestock Australia's latest projections have the nation's cattle herd reaching 30-year highs in 2012 and, while many of these numbers are in the north, there has definitely been some herd rebuilding in southern Australia, fuelling demand for bulls.

The Angus breed's influence over the State's beef herd looks set to continue with nearly 800 black bulls going under the hammer at 14 sales in the South East in mid-February.

Two new additional sales in Angus Week, and an increase in the size of some studs' catalogues, has pushed numbers on offer to their highest levels for some time.

Despite the Naracoorte Poll Hereford multi-vendor sale going into recess, there will be a slight increase in the number of the breed's bulls penned at on-property sales.

The Rabobank Naracoorte Shorthorn Show & Sale in early March has 80 bulls catalogued from 16 different vendors, and there will be plenty available at on-property sales for those looking for European sires for crossbreeding.

Landmark stud stock's Gordon Wood said the selling season had kicked-off in spring last year with large numbers of herd bulls bought in the paddock by pastoral areas to replace older bulls.

Buying early enabled the pastoralists to acclimatise the bulls to their new homes before the heat of summer.

Mr Wood was unsure of the strength of pastoral orders during the selling season with many stations still battling grass fires, however he expected strong competition from the higher rainfall areas of the State .

"If people don't buy at auction, there will be a limited supply of herd bulls available after the sales," he said.

Last year, there was some resistance about the jump in prices but, with sales only getting stronger interstate later in the year, Mr Wood said SA buyers were likely to accept the new buying level of $3500 to $5500.