Mayfield Elk 5-year-old in-calf cows Olive 3063 and Olive 3043 and 2-year-old bull Spike sold for the top price of $10,000 each at the charity auction.
Mayfield Elk Farm owner Tom May bred mainly trophy animals for game parks to release for hunting.
Spike broke an antler as a yearling, sparking a decision to sell him as a sire rather than a trophy animal
"He’ll do some velvet records for people."
The good-natured bull was "brilliant" when put in a hydraulic squeeze to repair the pedicle damage: "He wasn’t stressed, he seemed to know I was helping him."
Spike cut a "massive" 11kg head of velvet, which was "exceptional" for a two-year-old bull.
The bull was the son of Playboy and had "all the breeding you could ever wish for". He was bought by John Falconer, from Clachanburn Elk, at Puketoi on the Maniototo.
The cows both weighed about 230kg and were mated with the Mayfield’s "standout sire" Eureka.
Chris Jennings, of Awarua near Bluff, bought both cows.
Mr May introduced elk to Mayfield Farm about 40 years ago.
The farm had been in his family since 1863 and was one of the first sheep farms in New Zealand to be converted to elk.
Demand for his trophy animals was strong and he sold up to 15 bulls a year to game parks.
Elk velvet prices were also strong.
A Korean velvet processor recently told him the outlook was positive.
Other sale highlights include Littlebourne Farm, of Winton, selling two rising 1-year-old weaner cows, Blue 52 and Blue 16, for $3000 each.
Society president Glen Whyte, of Mid Canterbury, said the auction, held on online auction platform Bidr, gave elk and wapiti breeders at smaller studs a way to sell animals.
Six vendors, all from the South Island, featured at the sale.
Red deer studs held their annual hind sales at this time of year so Elk Wapiti Society launched a sale to give elk breeders a way to get part of the auction action.
Funds raised from the auction would pay the Bidr fee and help the society run its annual velvet competition.
The sale could become an annual event, Mr Whyte said.
"I’m hoping we can build on this for the future and provide an opportunity for society members to sell a few animals."
