IELTS Academic Reading Sample 29 - Deer Farming in Australia

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 28 – 40 which are based on Reading Passage 29.

 DEER FARMING IN AUSTRALIA

Paragraph A
Deer are not indigenous to Australia. 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. 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 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
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. 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. 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
From the formation of the Australian Deer Breeders Federation in 1979, the industry representative body has evolved through the Deer Farmers Federation of Australia to the Deer Industry Association of Australia Ltd (DIAA), which was registered in 1995. 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 horn and co-products on behalf of Australian deer farmers. It promotes the harvest of velvet antler 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
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. Supply difficulties were exacerbated when the supply of products, particularly venison, was maintained by the slaughter of young breeding females. The net result was depletion of the industry ’s female breeding herds.

Paragraph E
Industry programs are funded by statutory levies on sales 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. All projects have generated a significant volume of information, which complements similar work undertaken in New Zealand and other deer farming countries.  

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 28-32
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 28 – 32 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

28. Paragraph A
29. Paragraph B
30. Paragraph C
31. Paragraph D
32. Paragraph E

Questions 33-37
Read the passage 'Deer Farming in Australia' and look at the statements below.

In boxes 33 -37 on your answer sheet write:

TRUE             if the statement is true
FALSE            if the statement is false
NOT GIVEN   if the information is not given in the reading passage

33.  Until 1985 only 2 species of the originally released Australian deer were not used for farming.
34.  Since 1985 many imported deer have been interbred with the established herds.
35.  The drop in deer numbers since 1997 led to an increase in the price of venison.
36.  Only a small amount of Australian venison production is consumed domestically.
37.  Current economic conditions in Asian countries have had positive effects on the Australian deer industry.

Questions 38-40
Complete each of the following statements (Questions 38 -40 )with words taken from Reading Passage 29.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 38-40 on your answer sheet.

38.  A stringent  .................. allows the Australian deer industry to maintain their excellence of product.
39.  Herd stock expansion was made difficult by the killing of ................... to continue product supply.
40.  Foreign and home markets for Australian venison increased due to the ..................

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1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.30 (38 Votes)

Jahid
What is called a paragraph?
Elizaveta
Hello, why the answer to Q. 37 is "not given"? In my opinion, it is 'false' as it is said in the text "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...". It means that the economic situation in Asia caused depression in Australian deer farming.
IELTS Mentor
Yes, you should never use yes-no while the question instruction asks you to write true-false. Stick to the question instruction and write answers accordingly.
Fola
My name is Fola. I just registered to take the IELTS General Training test this coming 24th March. Are there any samples you can share with me? I am quite new in reading for this and I don't know which textbook to get and how to go about it. Any advice will be much appreciated. My email address is msyolurin@gmail .com. Thank you in advance.
Matt
If you answer like yes-no for the true and false questions, you won't get marks.
Jincy Alexander
Please give the explanation also.
Humayras
28. v, 29. viii, 30. i, 31. iii, 32. vi, 33. false, 34. not given, 35. true, 36. false, 37. not given, 38. quality assurance program, 39. breeding females, 40. Venison Market Project.
Minh
"Of concern is the apparent increase in the number of female animals processed and the number of whole herds committed for processing " - the word "of" can be at the beginning sentence? Can anybody help me, please? I meet this structure very much in my test; however, I don't understand the meaning of the "of" in this situation? of concern = one of the most concerns of concern = about concern ....Thanks a lot.
Susanne Barthelmes
I connected paragraph B with 'iii' and D with 'vii'. Could I get an explanation why this is wrong, please?
Preet
Please email me the answers.
Preet
Give me the answers.
Fila
33. yes, 34. not given, 35. no, 36. true, 37. not given, 38. quality assurance program, 39. breeding females, 40. venison market project.
Mirali Mirhashimli
Why only 7 questions? I really appreciate attempts of this website for helping us on IELTS, but please, prepare the questions etc. properly.
Goldy
Please send answers.
Gurinder
Wrong answer.
Abp
Send us answers, please.
Sally
I need the answers. Please send it.
Aysel Mammadova
Please send me answers.
Cnu
33. NO, 34. YES, 35. NO, 36. YES, 37. NG, 38. SCHEMES, 39. YOUNG BREEDING FEMALES/FEMALE BREEDING HERDS, 40. CONSUMPTION IS INCREASED.
Camilla Tommasini
Can you please send the answers?
Vikky
Please send me the answer.
Abdul Rahman
Number 39 is young breeding females because they said slugger means killing and there are other mistakes.
Ahmed
Please send me the answers.
Bm
Please, email me the answers. Thanks.
Philomina
Q. 33 is 'False' (4 species) Until 1985, only four species of deer, two from temperate climates (red, fallow) and two tropical species (rusa, chital) were confined for commercial farming.

Q. 34 TRUE. 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.

Zakia
Please email me the answers.
Dang
I guess the sentence 37 is wrong!
Eric
Actually, this reading passage does not complete the questions. I hope it's useful.

28. V, 29. VIII, 30. I, 31. III, 32. VI, 33. TRUE, 34. NOT GIVEN, 35. FALSE, 36. TRUE, 37. NOT GIVEN, 38. Quality, 39. Breeding females & 40. Venison market project.

Kelly
Can you please send me the answers? Or place them in the comment section? Thanks.
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Kenny
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Sunny
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Mona
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Taniya Perera
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Seema
Please give the answers.
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Nadia
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Kaveri
Provide the answers, please.
Ahmed
Hello, I want to verify my answers. Kindly send answers on my email. Thank you.
Zaineb Elbishari
Please, I want answers. If possible email me.
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