Association analysis of seven candidate genes with performance traits in Czech Large White pigs

Abstract

 In this study association analyses were performed between genes tagged SNP (IGF2, NAMPT, DGAT1, MYF4, MC3R, MC4R and MYOD1), performance traits (backfat thickness, lean meat content, average daily gain from birth to the end of the test, average daily gain in test) and estimated breeding values (EBVs) in a population of Czech Large White sows (n = 101). Genotyping of all SNPs was performed by SNapShot with the exception of SNP within NAMPT gene for which HpaII PCR-RFLP assay was used. The following significant associations between genes tagged SNPs and traits or EBVs were found out: DGAT1 – lean meat content (AG > AA, P ≤ 0.05), MC4R – EBV for lean meat content (GG > AA, P ≤ 0.05; GG > AG, P ≤ 0.05), IGF2 – EBV for reproduction (piglets born alive in the second and subsequent parity) (AG > AA, P ≤ 0.05) and total EBV (AG > AA, P ≤ 0.01) and MC3R – EBV for average daily gain (CT > TT, P ≤ 0.05).