CAPN1 gene as a potential marker for growth performance and carcass characteristics in pigs

Abstract

The calcium-activated neutral proteinase 1 (CAPN1) gene, which encodes µ-calpain, is considered to be associated with the majority of meat-quality traits. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of CAPN1 polymorphism on the most important slaughter, fattening and pork-quality traits. The genotype frequency of g.1429G>A polymorphism was estimated on 860 pigs represented by five breeds (Polish Landrace, Polish Large White, Pietrain, Duroc and Pulawska). In all breeds, the most frequent were pigs with an AA genotype (60–74%), with the exception of Duroc pigs where the largest number of GG animals was observed (14%). The results showed that g.1429G>A polymorphism significantly affected the number of days on test (P ≤ 0.05) and age at slaughter (P ≤ 0.01), the weight of ham and primary cuts (P ≤ 0.05, P ≤ 0.01 respectively), loin eye area (P ≤ 0.01) and average backfat thickness (P ≤ 0.05). The g.1429G>A single-nucleotide polymorphism showed no clear influence on complex pork-quality traits. At the present stage of research, the results obtained allow for the use of g.1429G>A polymorphism in CAPN1 gene as genetic marker in pig selection to improve several slaughter or fattening traits.