'Hisardale' a new breed of sheep developed in Punjab by:

The correct answer is Option (3) → Cross-breeding

Option (3) Cross-breeding — Correct. Hisardale was produced in Punjab by cross-breeding Bikaneri ewes with Marino rams. Cross-breeding joins the good features of two different breeds in one.

Note 1: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2022 on 23-08-2022 (Slot 3).

Note 2: This question is from Chapter 9, Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production, of the pre-rationalised NCERT book. This chapter is not in the present NCERT book (2026-27). The extract below is from the pre-rationalised edition.

NCERT Extract (Pre-rationalised edition, Chapter 9, Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production):
Animal Breeding – “… 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.”