Explain out-breeding, out-crossing and cross-breeding practices in animal husbandry.

Out-Breeding: When breeding is done between two unrelated animals, it is called out-breeding. they could be of the same breed or between different breeds.

Out-Crossing: It is a breeding between animals of the same breed but does not have any common ancestry on either side of their pedigree up-to 4 to 6 generations. The offspring of such a cross is called as an outcross. Outcrossing is the best breeding method for animals that are below average in productivity in milk production, growth rate in beef cattle, etc. Sometimes only one outcross helps to overcome inbreeding depression.

Cross-Breeding: In cross-breeding superior males of one breed are mated with superior females of another breed. Many new animal breeds have been developed by this strategy. It gives better breeds. Cows of an inferior breed may be mated to bulls of a superior breed to get better progeny. Hisardale is a new breed of sheep developed in Punjab by crossing Bikaneri ewes and Marino rams.