FSHβ subunit gene is associated with major gene controlling litter size in commercial pig breeds

An insertion fragment in porcine FSHβ subunit gene was cloned by PCR. Sequencing data show that the insertion is a retroposon of 292 bp siting in intron I at the site between + 809 and +810 base. Based on these results, a PCR programme was created to genotype animal individuals in different pig breeds at FSW locus and polymorphism of FSHP gene was analyzed. With the combination of genotype and litter size of sows, it was demonstrated that FSHβ locus is closely associated with major gene controlling litter size in commercial pig breeds, such as Yorkshire, Landrace, Durco. Averagely the AA sows give more 1.5 piglets than BB sows do per litter.