Effect of the Ser638Arg variation in the cast gene and causal SNP g.1843C>T in the RYR1 gene on carcass traits in crosbreed pigs

Abstract

The objectives of this investigation was to demonstrate that genotypes of calpastatin (CAST) Ser368Arg and ryadonide receptor 1 (RYR1) g.1843C>T may affect the carcass traits of pigs. Association analysis of the aforementioned SNPs was performed on 518 pigs included eight commercial crossbreeds and one pure pig breed. All pigs were slaughtered at average body weight of 113kg. Genotypes at the SNPs were determined by PCR-RFLP. There were found only two genotypes of RYR1 gene: CC (428 pigs) and CT (90 pigs) in this study. The effect of allele C compared to allele T on the higher fat content of pig carcass was confirmed. The allelic frequencies of allele 638Ser (C) and allele 638Arg (A) were 0.26 and 0.74, respectively. The significant association (P<0.05) was occurred between allele A and higher fat content, and between C allele and higher lean meat content. Our results showed no significant effect of the observed polymorphismSer638Arg on the intramuscular fat content or other indicators of carcass value.