Genetic effect and combined genotype effect of ESR, FSHβ, CTNNAL1 and miR-27a loci on litter size in a Large White population

Abstract

To select new Large White line with high number of piglets born, genotypes of estrogen receptor (ESR), the follicle stimulating hormone β subunit (FSHβ), catenin alpha like 1 (CTNNAL1) and miR-27a were tested in 472 Large White sows. The associations of different genotypes with litter size traits were also studied. The results showed ESR^BB and FSHβ^BB sows produced 0.41–1.49 more pigs per litter (p < .05) for total number born (TNB) and number born alive (NBA) than did other corresponding genotypes. TNB of CTNNAL1^CG sows is 0.50 more pigs per litter (p < .05) than that of CTNNAL1^GG sows with the dominance effect of 0.25 pigs per litter (p < .05). miR-27a^BB sows had a less estimated breeding value (EBV) to TNB and had a more number of mummified pigs (NM) than did miR-27a^AA or miR-27a^AB sows (p < .05). Therefore, ESR^B, FSHβ^B, CTNNAL1^G, miR-27a^A allele was favorable for litter size traits. Furthermore, combined genetic effect analysis showed ESR^AAFSHβ^BB, ESR^AACTNNAL1^CG, ESR^AAmiR-27a^AA, FSHβ^BBCTNNAL1^CC, FSHβ^BBmiR-27a^AA and CTNNAL1^CG miR-27a^AB was the favorable combined genotype for litter size traits. These results identified favorable alleles and genotypes for litter size traits and suggested a potential selection scheme for litter size in Large White pigs.

Keywords:

• Pig
• litter size
• genetic marker
• MBLUP

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported financially by Hubei Transformative Project for Agricultural Scientific and Technology Achievements (NZZ2015000038), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2662018PY037), and the open funds of the Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo Engineering and Molecular Breeding (KLAEMB-2016-03, KLAEMB-2017-01).