FROM the local butcher to state competition, Warwick's Steve Turnbull will take his knives to Sydney for a national contest.

Representing Queensland at the World Skills national championship, the 23-year-old will be competing in Retail Butchering.

With six years of experience, the Carey Bros butcher is confident his boning skills will one-up the competition.

"It's my first time entering. There will be some tough competition but I think my boning out skills are pretty impressive,” he said.

The three-day event will cover butchering skills such as breaking up the carcass, slicing and trimming and displaying for sale.

The judges will be critiquing technical skills, appearance, safety, hygiene and the contestant's ability to follow instructions.

The young butcher was invited to the national competition after coming second in last year's Toowoomba regional event.

One of the tasks Mr Turnbull has to complete is the sausage speed filling and plating, where contestants process 5kg of meat into sausage casings.

"I haven't done it before in competition, some of these guys can finish within a minute 30.”

Taking down his own knives, Mr Turnbull will have to carve everything by hand.

"They use hand saws and knives, very old fashioned but it shows great technical skills in the trade,” he said.

The event attracts more than 500 competitors across Australia, showcasing industry talents, vocational trades and top education providers.