Herefords Australia Youth members Kate Reid and Kate Shooter will compete against the nation’s best young carcass judges at this week’s Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging.
The competition has drawn around 170 entrants and is being held at Wagga, in southern NSW, from July 5-8.
Kate Shooter, a rural science student, and Kate Reid, an animal science student, will showcase their carcass assessment skills as part of a 13-member team representing the University of New England, Armidale.
Both young women are executive members of the Herefords Queensland Junior Association.
Participants benefit from two days of coaching, interactive workshops and lectures on topics including grain feeding cattle, processing, beef marketing, technology, digital consumer trends and judging beef primals.
The beef carcase judging will take place at Teys Australia, Wagga, on Friday, July 8.
Miss Reid said the training was intensive leading up to the event.
They were assisted by Jackson’s Quality Meats, Armidale, Teys Australia and UNE.
“We trained for 10 weeks involving an hour at the local butcher every morning learning the primal cuts and how to judge carcasses,’’ Miss Reid said.
“We had a two hour session every Wednesday night so there has been a huge lead-up.
“This is a one-off opportunity for us and it is quite different from judging cattle on the hoof.
“It will give us a great head start for a career in the meat and beef industry.’’