How to Breed Hybrids

The mule is the most versatile hybrid animal.

Encyclopedia Britannica defines heterosis as "the increase in such characteristics as size, growth rate, fertility, and yield of a hybrid organism over those of its parents. Plant and animal breeders exploit heterosis by mating two different pure-bred lines that have certain desirable traits." Well-known animal hybrids include mules, ligers, zeedonks, beefalo and wolphins.

Things You'll Need

• Male of one species
• Female of differing species

Instructions

Research Breeds

1. Understand interspecific hybrid breeding and resulting sterility. Because animals of different species often possess a different number of chromosomes, the resulting offspring are infertile. To create future hybrid animals, cross-breeding of the original animals must occur repeatedly.

2. Research desired traits among domesticated and wild animals. Domesticated animals are the results of years of natural selection, cross-breeding and human interaction. Introducing wild traits into domestic species through hybridization may cause potential problems, especially in large cats.

3. Realize the impact of genetic pollution. Purebred breeders, as well as wildlife biologists, concern themselves with breed degradation, accidental or irresponsible hybridization and wildlife survival. Hybrid animals may not possess genetic strength to fight disease. Increasing the number of hybrids may result in decreasing purebred populations, which can ultimately lead to extinction.

4. Recognize limitations. Genetic diversity between species poses several issues. The primary problem being that each species has its own fertility and mating pattern, making hybridization most successful, though not guaranteed, within the same genus.

5. Select prime interspecific hybrid candidates from two purebred animals of different species within the same genus. This selection results in offspring displaying traits and characteristics from both parents. For example, the horse has 64 chromosomes and a donkey has 62. Their offspring, either a mule or hinny depending on breeding, has 63 chromosomes. Because of the odd chromosome count, viable sperm and eggs are not formed, resulting in sterility.

6. Arrange either intercourse or artificial insemination between the male of one desired breed to the female of another desired breed. Very seldom will cross-breeding occur naturally, as several species rarely associate with one another.

Breeding Results

1. Create a zebroid. A zebroid is the result of any cross between a zebra and another equine species. Most zebroid crosses occur with either zebra stallions and horse mares or donkey sires and zebra mares.

2. Cross a Panthera leo lion with a female Panthera tigris to make a liger. A liger strongly resembles a giant lion with diffused stripes. The offspring of a male tiger and female lion, the tigon, is a similar hybrid.

3. Breed a cow with a buffalo to bring forth a beefalo. This hybrid produces a mild, juicy, sweet, low-fat, low-cholesterol red meat.

References

• Encyclopedia Britannica: Heterosis
• Mother Nature Network: 11 Amazing Hybrid Animals
• "The Book of Mules: Selecting, Breeding, and Caring for Equine Hybrids"; Donna Campbell Smith; 2008
• Messy Beast: Hybrid Equines