Question

Government Livestock Farm, Hisar developed 'Hisardale' breed of sheep by crossing Merino rams with ewes of which breed

• A. Chokla
• B. Nali
• C. Lohi
• D. Munjal

Hint:

Remember the classic crossbreeding parentage:
\[ \text{Australian Merino (Sire)} \times \text{Nali (Dam)} = \text{Hisardale} \] This is one of the most frequently asked questions in animal breeding exams in India.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Hisardale is a synthetic, fine-wool sheep breed developed in India through systematic crossbreeding of exotic fine-wool sheep with highly adapted indigenous breeds.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze the genetic origin of the Hisardale breed:

The breeding project was carried out at the Government Livestock Farm in Hisar, Haryana.

The objective of the program was to develop a sheep breed that could produce high-quality, fine-apparel wool under the hot and semi-arid climatic conditions of the plains of northwestern India.

To achieve this, exotic Australian Merino rams (known for their exceptional fine wool) were crossed with ewes of the nativeNali breed.
The Nali is a hardy, local breed of Haryana and Rajasthan, known for its adaptability but coarser carpet-quality wool.

The resulting crossbred progeny were selected and inter-se mated over generations to stabilize the genetic makeup, resulting in the "Hisardale" breed.

Let us review the other options:
-Chokla is a premium carpet-wool breed of Rajasthan, sometimes called the "Indian Merino," but it was not the maternal parent for Hisardale.
-Lohi is a heavy dual-purpose (meat/milk) breed of Pakistan and Punjab.
-Munjal is a large-sized sheep breed primarily reared for mutton.
Thus, Hisardale was developed by crossing Merino rams with Nali ewes.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct option is (B), representing Nali.