UQ Gatton student Hayley Piggott knows her lamb, and she has won first place in the lamb judging section of the 24th Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging competition to prove it.
Ms Piggott and seven other students from The University of Queensland’s Gatton campus travelled to Wagga Wagga to take part in the competition.
Ms Piggott beat 124 contestants to win the lamb judging section of the competition.
“We had to judge different carcasses, taking into account meat colour, fat colour, muscling and fat distribution and put them in place order and also answer a quiz,” Ms Piggott said.
“Taking part in the competition really broadened my knowledge and made me look at meat in a different way, and how it may be judged in an abattoir.”
“As I’m studying Agribusiness, it’s really important that businesses are producing and distributing high quality meat.
“This really enforced that it is something that the industry is trying to ensure is happening,” Ms Piggott said.
The meat judging competition was part of a five-day program that educated university students on meat judging, supply chain management and the diverse career opportunities in the beef, lamb and pork industry.
PhD student and coach Jarrod Lees said the trip was fantastic.
“The knowledge of all sectors, from production through to processing in the beef, lamb and pork industries that the students have gained will go a long way to helping them on their way to their future careers,” Mr Lees said.
“The contacts the students now have, both domestic and international, will be invaluable to them.”
More than 120 students from nine Australian universities and five international teams from the United States, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Pakistan competed.
Media: Erin Pearl, UQ Gatton, e.pearl@uq.edu.au or 5460 1229.
