Hisardale' is a new breed of sheep developed from:

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2: Developed by crossing of Bikaneri ewes and Marino rams.

The development of 'Hisardale' is a well-known and pivotal example of controlled cross-breeding in the field of animal husbandry, illustrating how superior traits can be systematically combined. This new breed of sheep was created at the Government Livestock Farm in Hisar, Punjab (now Haryana), India, through a carefully planned genetic process. The primary goal was to create a dual-purpose breed: one that retained the hardy constitution and adaptability to the local, often harsh, Indian climate from a native breed, while simultaneously gaining the genetic potential for fine, high-quality wool from an exotic breed. The specific cross involved using the native **Bikaneri ewes** (the female parent, providing the crucial local adaptation, hardiness, and maternal traits) and the exotic **Marino rams** (the male parent, contributing the dominant genetic traits for fine-quality, high-yield wool). This systematic crossing and subsequent selection resulted in the establishment of the 'Hisardale' breed, which is highly valued today for its improved wool quality and meat-producing capacity.

The incorrect option is 1: Developed by crossing of Punjab lohi and Marino rams
This option incorrectly identifies one of the parent breeds that formed the foundation of Hisardale. The Punjab Lohi is a native Indian sheep breed known primarily for its heavy fleece of coarse wool used for carpets and its good mutton quality. While a cross between a Punjab Lohi and a Merino ram would indeed produce a hybrid with better wool than the pure Lohi, this specific combination is not the one recognized in the official breeding records for 'Hisardale'. The Hisardale breed's maternal line is definitively established as the Bikaneri ewe breed.

The incorrect option is 3: Developed by crossing of Bikaneri rams and Punjab ewes
This option is fundamentally incorrect for two reasons that violate the principles of the Hisardale cross. Firstly, it reverses the primary role of the Indian parent by suggesting Bikaneri rams and Punjab ewes were used, which contradicts the known maternal heritage. Secondly, and most importantly, this cross only involves two indigenous Indian breeds (Bikaneri and Punjab Lohi). The entire purpose of creating a new fine-wool breed like Hisardale was to introduce the superior wool genetics of the exotic Merino sheep, which this option entirely omits.

The incorrect option is 4: Developed by crossing of Bikaneri ewes and Mandya sheep
This option is incorrect because it substitutes the critical exotic parent with another native Indian breed, which would fail to achieve the desired outcome of fine wool production. Mandya sheep are a popular breed from South India that is primarily famous for its superior meat quality and often has poor wool characteristics. A cross between Bikaneri ewes and Mandya rams would likely yield good mutton sheep but would not possess the necessary genetic contribution of the Merino ram, which is essential for the development and definition of the new fine-wool, dual-purpose 'Hisardale' breed.