AS MEAT processors prepare to close up for Christmas, Southern Downs cattle vendors made one last push to sell in Warwick last week.

A total of 1569 head were yarded on Tuesday, drawing buyers of all ages to the weekly sale.

Among the youngest were Nicholas and Bevan Schelbach who had the morning off school to help their family selling steers.

"We're selling four today,” Nicholas said.

"The two black ones are from our brahmans that we breed out at Sandy Creek and the other two brown ones we bought as calves.

"We had 30 (head) in total at one point but we've only got about two now since we sold.

"We've had two more calves born this morning and another due to come very soon.

"We'll head home soon to help dad out with the harvest too.”

More seasoned sale-goers Adrian Gray and Len Patterson caught up at Tuesday's sale.

Mr Gray said he was helping his aunt with mustering at her property near Clifton, while Mr Patterson said he was inspecting the market after selling bullocks two weeks prior.

"I got a bit over $3 a kilo for bullocks when I sold 15 last fortnight,” Mr Patterson said.

"I'll have a few more to go in the new year but I want to get a little more weight on them first, plus it's getting too hot to muster.

"This will be the last week for the heavier cattle before the processors all take a break for Christmas.”

Out at Clifton, Mr Gray said the ground was beginning to dry out thanks to a week of intense heat to start off summer.

He said he was unsurprised that many were opting to sell off before the new year.

"We always need a bit of rain around Warwick though things had been looking pretty good,” he said.

"It's getting pretty dry now especially with the hot weather really changing things and making the pasture drop off, and the storms are a bit hit and miss with how much rain they bring to the area.

"I'm selling about 23 steers today and I've got a few heifers and cows to go yet.

"We'd usually wait until the new year to sell but there's not enough feed at the moment and we're starting our stock on hay right now.”

The final cattle sale will be next Tuesday, December 20 at the Warwick Saleyards.