Difference between Out-breeding: Out-crossing and Cross-breeding - Practice Questions & MCQ

Out-breeding:

• Out-breeding is the breeding of the unrelated animals, which may be:
  • between individuals of the same breed (but having no common ancestors) - out-crossing
  • between different breeds (cross-breeding) 
  • between different species (interspecific hybridisation)

Out-crossing: 

• This is the practice of mating of animals within the same breed, but having no common ancestors on either side of their pedigree up to 4-6 generations. 
• The offspring of such a mating is known as an out-cross. 
• It is the best breeding method for animals that are below average in productivity in milk production, the growth rate in beef cattle, etc. 
• A single outcross often helps to overcome inbreeding depression.

Cross-breeding: 

• In this method, superior males of one breed are mated with superior females of another breed. 
• Cross-breeding allows the desirable qualities of two different breeds to be combined.
• The progeny hybrid animals may themselves be used for commercial production.
• Alternatively, they may be subjected to some form of inbreeding and selection to develop new stable breeds that may be superior to the existing breeds. 
• Many new animal breeds have been developed by this approach.
• Hisardale is a new breed of sheep developed in Punjab by crossing Bikaneri ewes and Marino rams.

Interspecific hybridisation: 

• In this method, male and female animals of two different species are mated. 
• In some cases, the progeny may combine desirable features of both the parents and may be of considerable economic value, e.g., the mule. 
• Mule is produced from a cross between a female horse (mare) and a male donkey.