Check out Deer farming in Australia reading answers given in the answer table below.

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Answer Table

28. v	35. False
29. viii	36. True
30. i	37. Not Given
31. iii	38. quality assurance program
32. vi	39. breeding females
33. True	40. venison market project
34. Not Given

Exam Review

Find Deer farming in Australia Reading Answers with location, in the section below.

Deer Farming in Australia

Paragraph A - How Deer Came to Australia

Deer are not indigenous to Australia. Q 1 They were introduced into the country during the nineteenth century under the acclimatization programs governing the introduction of exotic species of animals and birds into Australia. Six species of deer were released at various locations. The animals dispersed and established wild populations at various locations across Australia, mostly depending upon their points of release into the wild. These animals formed the basis for the deer industry in Australia today.

Commercial deer farming in Australia commenced in Victoria in 1971 with the authorized capture of rusa deer from the Royal National Park, NSW. Q 6 Until 1985, only four species of deer, two from temperate climates (red, yellow) and two tropical species (rusa, chital) were confined for commercial farming. Late in 1985, pressure from the industry to increase herd numbers saw the development of import protocols. This resulted in the introduction of large numbers of red deer hybrids from New Zealand and North American elk directly from Canada. The national farmed deer herd is now distributed throughout all states although most are in New South Wales and Victoria.

Paragraph B - Industry Development

Q 8 The number of animals processed annually has continued to increase, despite the downward trend in venison prices since 1997. Of concern is the apparent increase in the number of female animals processed and the number of whole herds committed for processing. With more than 40,000 animals processed in 1998/99 and 60,000 in 1999/2000, there is justified concern that future years may see a dramatic drop in production. Q 9 At least 85% of all venison produced in Australia is exported, principally to Europe. At least 90% of all velvet antler produced is exported in an unprocessed state to Asia.
Schemes to promote Australian deer products continue to have a positive effect on sales that in turn have a positive effect on prices paid to growers. Q 2 The industry appears to be showing limited signs that it is emerging from a state of depression caused by both internal and external factors that include: (i) the Asian currency downturn; (ii) the industry’s lack of competitive advantage in influential markets (particularly in respect to New Zealand competition), and (iii) within industry processing and marketing competition for limited product volumes of venison.

Paragraph C - Industry Structures

From the formation of the Australian Deer Breeders Federation in 1979, the industry representative body has evolved from the Deer Farmers Federation of Australia to the Deer Industry Association of Australia Ltd (DIAA), which was registered in 1995. Q 3 The industry has established two product development and marketing companies, the Australian Deer Horn and Co-Products Pty Ltd (ADH) and the Deer Industry Projects and Development Pty Ltd, which trades as the Deer Industry Company (DIC). ADH collects and markets Australian deer horns and co-products on behalf of Australian deer farmers. Q 11 It promotes the harvest of velvet antlers according to the strict quality assurance program promoted by the industry. The company also plans and coordinates regular velvet accreditation courses for Australian deer farmers.

Paragraph D - Trend in Production

Q 4 Estimates suggest that until the early 1990s, the rate of the annual increase in the number of farmed deer was up to 25%, but after 1993 this rate of increase fell to probably less than 10%. The main reasons for the decline in the deer herd growth rate at such a critical time for the market were: (i) severe drought conditions up to 1998 affecting eastern Australia during 1993-96 and (ii) the consequent slaughter of large numbers of breeding females, at very low prices. These factors combined to decrease confidence within the industry. Lack of confidence saw a drop in new investment within the industry and a lack of willingness of established farmers to expand their herds. With the development of strong overseas markets for venison and velvet and the prospect of better seasons ahead in 1996, the trends described were seen to have been significantly reversed. However, the relatively small size of the Australian herd was seen to impose undesirable restraints on the rate at which herd numbers could be expanded to meet the demands for products. Q 12 Supply difficulties were exacerbated when the supply of products, particularly venison, was maintained by the slaughter of young breeding females. The net result was the depletion of the industry’s female breeding herds.

Paragraph E - Research and Development

Industry programs are funded by statutory levies on the sale of animals for venison, velvet antler sales, and the sale of live animals into export markets. The industry has a 1996-2000 five-year plan including animal nutrition, pasture quality, carcass quality, antler harvesting, promotional material, and technical bulletins. Q 5 All projects have generated a significant volume of information, which complements similar work undertaken in New Zealand and other deer farming countries.

Q 13 Major projects funded by levy funds include the Venison Market Project from 1992 to 1996. This initiative resulted in a dramatic increase in international demand for Australian venison and an increase in the domestic consumption of venison. In an effort to maintain existing venison markets in the short term and to increase them in the long term, in 1997 the industry’s top priority became the increase in size and production capacity of the national herd.

Questions 1 - 5

The reading passage on Deer Farming In Australia has 5 paragraphs ( A – E ).
From the list of headings below choose the most suitable headings for paragraphs A – E.
Write the appropriate number (i – viii) in boxes 1 - 5 on your answer sheet.

NB There are more headings than paragraphs, so you will not use them all.

i. Industry Structures
ii. Disease Affects Production
iii. Trends in Production
iv. Government Assistance
v. How Deer Came to Australia
vi. Research and Development
vii. Asian Competition
viii. Industry Development

1. Paragraph A
   Answer: v (Locate)
2. Paragraph B
   Answer: viii (Locate)
3. Paragraph C
   Answer: i (Locate)
4. Paragraph D
   Answer: iii (Locate)
5. Paragraph E
   Answer: vi (Locate)

Questions 6 - 10

Read the passage on ‘Deer Farming in Australia’ and look at the statement below.
In boxes 6 - 10 on your answer sheet:
TRUE: if the statement is true
FALSE: if the statement is false
NOT GIVEN: if the information is not given in the reading passage

6. Until 1985, just two species of the initially released Australian deer did not get used for farming.
  Answer: True (Locate)
7. Since 1985, numerous imported deer have interbred with the existing herds.
Answer: Not Given
8. Venison prices have increased as a result of a drop in the number of deer since 1997.
Answer: False (Locate)
9. Domestic consumption of Australian venison is relatively small.
Answer: True(Locate)
10. The current state of the economy in Asian nations has been advantageous to the Australian deer industry.
Answer: Not Given

Questions 11 - 13

Complete each of the following statements (Questions 11 - 13 )with words taken from Reading Passage.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 11 - 13 on your answer sheet.

11. The Australian deer industry is able to maintain the excellence of its products because of a strict ___________.
Answer: quality assurance program (Locate)
12. The annihilation of _____________ as a means to maintain product supply made it hard for the herd population to expand.
Answer: breeding females (Locate)
13. Because of the ______________, Australian venison's domestic and international markets have increased.
  Answer: venison market project (Locate)