SHARP TALENT: New World Melody's butcher apprentice Keegan Smith, from Palmerston North, knows a thing or two about a good cut of meat.

A Palmerston North supermarket butcher has proven himself the sharpest knife around, carving his way to a chance to be crowned the best in the country.

Butchers from all over the lower North Island travelled to Palmerston North to contest The Alto Young Butcher and Competenz Butcher Apprentice of the Year competition.

The top apprentice spot was taken out by Melody's New World Supermarket's Keegan Smith, 21.

The competition held at UCOL's hospitality school on Saturday drew contestants from Wellington to Taumarunui.

The judges put the young butchers and apprentices through their paces, with an exam, an interview and a practical cutting test.

The butchers' hygiene practices, the sharpness of their knives and care taken trimming fat all came under scrutiny, with the best given the nod to compete in the national finals in Auckland next month.

Mr Smith has been a butcher's apprentice at Melody's New World for a little over two years and takes great pride in his craft.

"It's the finished product, just looking at it and knowing I did that - it's the best."

The young butcher's expertise is in beef - and he knows a good steak when he sees one. His advice to buyers is to judge a piece of meat by its appearance.

"Everybody shops with their eyes, my tip is to look at how much fat is on it and how well it has been cut because you can tell when someone has put in a lot of effort."

And waste not, want not - meat left over from the competition was sold to those who came to watch.