Early morning training sessions at the abattoir have paid off for Charles Sturt University (CSU) student meat judges.

The CSU team was runner-up in the Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging (ICMJ) competition, held in Wagga Wagga last week.

Four CSU students, Ms Stephanie Ede, Miss Meg Parsons, Mr Timothy Morley-Sattler and Ms Nicole Whitehouse were selected in the 10-member national training squad.

A Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management student, Ms Ede was also the runner-up in the individual competition.

"It was a fantastic week, providing a great insight into the red meat production, processing and marketing along with the chance to meet industry leaders," she said.

The four CSU students will now participate in a meat industry training workshop in Brisbane during September, where the National team to tour the United States in 2015 will be selected.

CSU fielded a 27-member team of students from the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences and School of Aninmal and Veterinary Sciences in the meat judging competition.

The five-day event was organised by the not-for-profit Australian ICMJ Association to highlight careers in the meat industry and provide hands on training in carcass evaluation and meat science.

CSU Professor of Animal Production, Peter Wynn said, "The students learned of new ways of cutting and selling our products to ensure that our export markets are expanding across the globe with a particular emphasis on our doorstep in Asia."

Professor Wynn said more than 160 students from five countries took part and CSU was the highest placed Australian team.

 "This success highlights the strength of Charles Sturt University's agricultural, equine, animal and veterinary science programs and why our students are highly competitive in obtaining employment within the meat industry."

The CSU team was coached by lecturer in livestock production management Ms Jane Kelly, veterinary science students Ms Vanessa Campbell and Ms Ebony Mull, and animal science student Ms Laura Kemmis