猪IGF2基因外显子4b的遗传多态性及其遗传效应

采用PCR-SSCP方法检测猪胰岛素样生长因子2(insulin-like growth factor 2,IGF2)基因外显子4b的多态性,并分析其对初生重、断奶重、6月龄重和背膘厚的遗传效应。根据猪IGF2基因的DNA序列(AY044828)设计引物,在exon4b上发现了一个多态性位点,并对纯合子进行测序,发现13位C→A转换,且存在3种基因型(AA、AB、BB)。统计结果表明,3种基因型在各品种中的分布不一致,长白猪与大白猪比较,莱芜猪与大薄莲猪比较,沂蒙黑猪和里岔黑猪比较差异不显著(P>0.05);其他猪种间基因型分布的差异均显著(P<0.05)。固定效应模型分析结果表明,初生重,断奶重和背膘厚基因型间差异显著(P<0.05),而6月龄重基因型间差异不显著(P>0.05)。最小二乘分析结果表明,BB基因型个体同AA和AB、基因型个体比较初生重和断奶重的差异显著(P<0.05),3种基因型在初生重和断奶重的大小排列顺序为AA>AB>BB;AA基因型个体同AB和BB基因型个体比较背膘厚的差异显著(P<0.05),3种基因型在背膘厚的大小排列顺序为BB>AB>AA。因此,推测IGF2基因对个体的生长速度和胴体瘦肉率存在一定的影响,将IGF2基因应用于猪育种过程中的标记辅助选择可以加快猪的育种进程。     

山东部分地方猪种MyoG基因5'端遗传多态性及遗传效应分析

采用PCR-SSCP方法对莱芜猪、大蒲莲猪、沂蒙黑猪和里岔黑猪的肌细胞生成素(myogenin,MyoG)基因5'端进行单核苷酸多态性检测,并分析MyoG基因对猪的初生重、60日龄重、210日龄重,60～210日龄平均日增重和背膘厚的影响。根据猪MyoG基因5'端的DNA序列(U14331)设计3对引物,发现5-2引物对扩增的片段有多态性,且存在3种基因型(AA、AB、BB),并对纯合子进行测序,发现2080位G→A突变。χ2独立性检验表明,基因型频率在莱芜猪和大蒲莲猪与沂蒙黑猪和里岔黑猪间存在显著差异(P<0.05)。固定效应模型分析结果表明,初生重基因型间差异显著(P<0.05),而60日龄重、210日龄重、60～210日龄平均日增重和背膘厚基因型间差异不显著(P>0.05)。最小二乘分析结果表明,BB基因型与其他两种基因型比较有较小的初生重和日增重,同AA和AB基因型比较差异极显著(P<0.01),3种基因型在初生重和60～210日龄日增重的大小排列顺序一致,为AA>AB>BB。因此,推测基因型对个体的初生重和日增重存在一定的影响,选择带有A等位基因的个体有望提高个体的初生重和日增重。     

猪IGF2基因的遗传多态性及其遗传效应分析

采用PCR-SSCP方法检测胰岛素样生长因子2 (insulin-like growth factor 2, IGF2)基因外显子7, 8, 9的多态性, 并分析其对初生重、断奶重、6月龄重和6月龄背膘厚的遗传效应。根据猪IGF2基因的DNA序列(AY044828)设计3对引物, 结果在Ex8引物对扩增的片段上发现了多态性, 并对纯合子进行测序, 发现exon8的53位存在C→T转换, 且检测到3种基因型(AA、AB、BB)。统计结果表明, 3种基因型在各品种中的分布不一致, 长白猪与大白猪比较, 莱芜猪与大薄莲猪比较, 沂蒙黑猪和里岔黑猪比较差异不显著(P > 0.05); 其他猪种间基因型分布的差异均显著(P < 0.01)。固定效应模型分析结果表明, 初生重和6月龄背膘厚基因型间差异显著(P < 0.05), 而断奶重和6月龄重基因型间差异不显著(P > 0.05)。最小二乘分析结果表明, BB基因型个体同AA和AB基因型个体比较初生重的差异显著(P < 0.05), 3种基因型在初生重的大小排列顺序为AB > AA > BB; AA基因型个体同AB和BB基因型个体比较6月龄背膘厚的差异显著(P < 0.05), 3种基因型在6月龄背膘厚的大小排列顺序为BB > AB > AA。因此, 推测IGF2基因对个体的初生重和胴体瘦肉率存在一定的影响, 将IGF2基因应用于猪育种过程中的标记辅助选择可以加快猪的育种进程。     

生长激素基因(GH2)多态性与猪部分生产性能的关系

采用PCR -RFLP对南昌白猪 (117头 )和大约克夏猪 (36 1头 )的GH 2基因 - 119～ +486bp的片段进行了扩增 ,并用ApaⅠ酶切 ,产生了 2个等位基因A(44 9+10 1+5 5bp)和B(316 +133+10 1+5 5bp)。分析了不同基因型对个体初生重、2月龄重、4月龄重、6月龄重、校正背膘厚、平均背膘厚、瘦肉率和料重比等生产性能的影响。结果表明 ,在南昌白猪中 ,不同GH 2基因型间在所测的生产性能上差异不显著 (P >0 0 5 ) ;在大约克夏猪中 ,AA型猪的瘦肉率最低、与BB型猪相比 ,差异显著 (P <0 0 5 )。     

猪IGF-I基因的一个遗传多态性及其遗传效应分析

采用PCR-SSCP方法对长白猪（87头）、大白猪（79头）和马身猪（102头）的胰岛素样生长因子-I（IGF-I）基因exon3和exon4分别进行单核苷酸多态性分析。发现exon3上有多态性,且存在3种基因型（AA、AB、BB）。统计结果表明,3种基因型在各品种中的分布不一致,多重比较差异极显著（P<0.01）。固定效应模型分析结果表明,背膘厚基因型间差异显著（P<0.05）,而初生重、断奶重和6月龄重基因型间差异不显著（P>0.05）。最小二乘分析结果表明,BB基因型与其它2种基因型比较有较大的初生重,同AA和AB型比较差异极显著（P<0.01）,3种基因型在初生重的大小排列顺序为AA相似文献   

肌肉生长抑制素基因5′调控区的多态性与大白猪的早期生长有关

肌肉生长抑制素(myostatin, 简称抑肌素, 又称GDF8)是骨骼肌发育的负调节因子. 本研究对猪抑肌素基因5′调控区的序列进行了克隆, 对该区段的多态性及其与大白猪初生重和早期生长的关系进行了分析. 结果表明, 猪抑肌素基因5′调控区的序列存在长度多态性和单核苷酸多态性(SNP), 其中, 在435和447位点, 由PCR-SSCP判定的2个等位基因(A和B)核苷酸序列不同: A等位基因分别为A和G, B等位基因则分别为G和A. 在所检测的大白猪群体中A和B等位基因的频率分别为0.525和0.475; 所检测的9头莱芜猪中4头为AA型, 5头为AB型, 未检测到BB型. 本研究首次发现等位基因B对大白猪21日龄(P<0.01)、28日龄(P<0.05)和70日龄体重(P<0.05)以及0~21日龄(P<0.01)、0~28日龄(P<0.05)和21~70日龄(P<0.01)的日增重等早期生长性状均具有有利效应, 加性效应值分别为(0.596±0.205)(P=0.0041), (0.498±0.200)(P=0.0136)和(1.409±0.551) kg (P=0.0112)以及(28.39±9.74)(P=0.0041), (17.78±7.15)(P=0.0136)和(37.00±16.92)g (P=0.0304), 均达到显著或极显著水平. 而对28~70日龄的日增重, 尽管BB基因型个体有较高的日增重, 但差异不显著(P>0.1).     

猪UCP5基因克隆表达特性及与屠体性状的关联分析

通过3′和5′cDNA末端快速扩增(RACE)获得了猪UCP5基因全长cDNA序列,通过不同品种猪UCP5基因编码区和调控区单核苷酸多态分析,发现 -1 567 bp处存在A→T的突变,从而导致转录因子CdxA、HNF-1、Sox-5、GATA-2结合位点发生了改变．在金华×皮特兰F2代资源群中,使用PCR限制性片段长度多态性(RFLP)方法,对524头个体进行基因型测定,并与屠体性状关联分析,结果发现,AA型活体重极显著高于BB型(P < 0.01),AB型活体重显著高于BB型(0.01 < P < 0.05),AA型的后腿肌肉重极显著高于BB型(P < 0.01),AA型的后腿脂肪重显著高于BB型(0.01 < P < 0.05)．同时,通过实时荧光定量PCR获得了UCP5基因在初生仔猪心、肝、脾、肺、肾、眼肌、腹脂和大脑等不同组织中基因表达的特性,结果表明,UCP5在猪的各种组织均有表达,在脑和肺中表达量最多．t检验发现,初生达兰猪眼肌中UCP5的表达量显著高于金华猪．     

猪IGF2基因外显子3的遗传多态性及遗传效应分析

采用PCR-SSCP方法检测猪胰岛素样生长因子2(insulin-like growth factor 2,IGF2)基因外显子3多态性,分析其对初生重、断奶重、6月龄重和背膘厚的遗传效应,根据猪IGF2基因的DNA序列(AY044828)设计引物,结果在其扩增片段上检测到多态性,对纯合子进行测序,发现1GF2-ex3-A36T和IGF2-ex3-G109A两个多态性位点,并且这2个多态性位点完全连锁,检测到3种基因型(A36A/G109G.A36T/G109A和T36T/A109A),统计结果表明,基因型在各品种中分布不一致,长白猪和大白猪与莱芜猪、大薄莲猪、沂蒙黑猪和里岔黑猪比较基因型分布差异极显著(P＜0.01);其它猪种间基因型分布差异均不显著(P＞0.05),固定效应模型分析结果表明,初生重和背膘厚基因型间差异显著(P＜0.05),而断奶重和6月龄重基因型间差异不显著(P＞0.05),最小二乘分析结果表明,A36A/G109G基因型个体同A36T/G109A和T36T/A109A基因型个体比较初生重和背膘厚的差异显著(P＜0.05),3种基因型初生重的大小排列顺序为A36A/G109G＜A36T/G109A＜T36T/A109A,背膘厚的大小排列顺序为A36A/G109G＞A36T/G109A＞T36T/A109A.因此,推测IGF2基因对个体的初生重和胴体瘦肉率存在一定的影响,将IGF2基因应用于猪育种过程中的标记辅助选择,将可以改善猪肉品质,加快猪的育种进程.     

猪IGF-Ⅰ基因的一个遗传多态性及其遗传效应分析

采用PCR-SSCP方法对长白猪(87头)、大白猪(79头)和马身猪(102头)的胰岛素样生长因子-Ⅰ(IGF-Ⅰ)基因外显子3和外显子4分别进行单核苷酸多态性分析.发现外显子3上有多态性,且存在3种基因型(AA、AB、BB).统计结果表明,3种基因型在各品种中的分布不一致,多重比较差异极显著(P＜0.01).固定效应模型分析结果表明,背膘厚基因型间差异显著(P＜0.05),而初生重、断奶重和6月龄重基因型间差异不显著(P＞0.05).最小二乘分析结果表明,BB基因型与其它2种基因型比较有较大的初生重,同AA和AB型比较差异极显著(P＜0.01),3种基因型在初生重的大小排列顺序为AA＜AB＜BB;BB基因型与AA基因型比较有较小的背膘厚,且差异极显著(P＜0.01).因此,推测IGF-Ⅰ基因对个体的初生重和胴体瘦肉率存在一定的影响.选择带有B等位基因的个体,有望提高个体的初生重和胴体的瘦肉率.     

猪Opn4基因cDNA克隆与表达分析

为揭示猪Opn4基因的结构并研究其在猪视网膜中昼夜表达差异与生长各阶段表达规律, 文章克隆了猪Opn4基因全长CDS区序列, 定量检测了Opn4基因在猪视网膜中昼夜的表达量以及其在不同生长阶段的表达量。结果表明, Opn4基因编码区序列为1 437 bp, 编码478个氨基酸, 分子式为C2398H3705N623O651S23; Opn4基因在白昼的表达量极显著高于夜晚(P<0.01); Opn4基因在出生前34 d胎儿视网膜中表达量最低(P<0.01); 1日龄时表达量最高(P<0.01); 1月龄、4月龄、84月龄猪视网膜中Opn4表达量差异不显著(P>0.05)。以上结果提示, Opn4基因可参与调控猪的生物节律, 并且Opn4主要参与出生后猪对外界光照的应答。     

母猪繁殖力性状影响因素分析及遗传参数估计

母猪繁殖力是影响种猪场经济效益的重要因素。文章对纯种大白猪、长白猪、杜洛克猪的8491窝产仔记录进行统计分析, 建立固定效应模型对总产仔数、健仔数、初生窝重、弱仔数、死胎数、木乃伊胎数和畸形胎数共7个繁殖性状进行最小二乘分析, 分析胎次、配种季节、品种对母猪繁殖性能的影响, 同时比较了纯繁和杂交的效果。利用动物模型REML(约束最大似然)方法估计繁殖性状的遗传力和遗传相关。结果表明, 胎次、配种季节和品种对总产仔数、健仔数、初生窝重影响极显著(P<0.001), 胎次和品种对弱仔数影响极显著(P<0.001), 但配种季节对弱仔数影响不显著。胎次对死胎数影响显著(P<0.05), 而配种季节和品种对死胎数影响不显著, 胎次、配种季节和品种对木乃伊胎、畸形胎数影响不显著。长白♂×大白♀交配组合具有最高的总产仔数、健仔数和初生窝重。繁殖性状遗传力估计结果显示, 长白猪初生窝重的遗传力最高, 为0.227。其余性状遗传力均在0.2以下, 为低遗传力性状。3个品种母猪的健仔数与初生窝重、总产仔数与健仔数之间的遗传相关达0.96以上。研究结果为降低非传染性因素造成的种母猪产仔数低的问题以及种猪场对母猪繁殖力的选育提高提供了参考数据和理论依据。     

母猪繁殖力性状影响因素分析及遗传参数估计

母猪繁殖力是影响种猪场经济效益的重要因素。文章对纯种大白猪、长白猪、杜洛克猪的8491窝产仔记录进行统计分析,建立固定效应模型对总产仔数、健仔数、初生窝重、弱仔数、死胎数、木乃伊胎数和畸形胎数共7个繁殖性状进行最小二乘分析,分析胎次、配种季节、品种对母猪繁殖性能的影响,同时比较了纯繁和杂交的效果。利用动物模型REML(约束最大似然)方法估计繁殖性状的遗传力和遗传相关。结果表明,胎次、配种季节和品种对总产仔数、健仔数、初生窝重影响极显著(P<0.001),胎次和品种对弱仔数影响极显著(P<0.001),但配种季节对弱仔数影响不显著。胎次对死胎数影响显著(P<0.05),而配种季节和品种对死胎数影响不显著,胎次、配种季节和品种对木乃伊胎、畸形胎数影响不显著。长白♂×大白♀交配组合具有最高的总产仔数、健仔数和初生窝重。繁殖性状遗传力估计结果显示,长白猪初生窝重的遗传力最高,为0.227。其余性状遗传力均在0.2以下,为低遗传力性状。3个品种母猪的健仔数与初生窝重、总产仔数与健仔数之间的遗传相关达0.96以上。研究结果为降低非传染性因素造成的种母猪产仔数低的问题以及种猪场对母猪繁殖力的选育提高提供了参考数据和理论依据。     

MyoG基因对金华猪繁殖性状的影响

用PCR-RFLP方法对金华猪I系（109头）、II系（15头）、III系（25头）的MyoG基因的第二内含子内（PCR1- MspⅠ-RFLP）和3'-端（PCR2- MspⅠ-RFLP）位点进行了多态性分析。结果表明：PCR1- MspⅠ-RFLP位点有3种基因型（AA、AB、BB）,其基因型频率分别为0.1544,0.3826,0.4631;PCR2- MspⅠ-RFLP位点只有2种基因型（MM、MN）,其基因型频率分别为0.9953和0.0047。采用SPSS程序分析MyoG基因对金华猪繁殖性状的影响。结果表明：MyoG基因对金华母猪初胎的总产仔数、二胎的产活仔数影响显著（P<0.05）,而对其他胎次组合的总产仔数、产活仔数以及初生窝重没有显著影响（P<0.05）。     

Influence of some sow characteristics on within-litter variation of piglet birth weight

Within-litter variation of piglet birth weight (BW0) is associated with an increased piglet mortality and a high variability in pig weight at weaning and weight or age at slaughter. Data collected in two experimental herds were used to quantify within-litter variability in BW0 and to assess the influence of factors mainly related to the sow. Within 24 h after birth, piglets born alive were individually weighed and stillborn piglets were collectively (first data set) or individually (second data set) weighed. The first data set was restricted to litters with no or only one stillborn piglet (3338 litters). It was used to assess the influence of genetic selection on BW0 variation by comparing litter characteristics before (1994 to 1996) and after (2001 to 2004) the development of hyperprolific sows in this herd. The second data set included all litters (n = 1596) from sows born between 2000 and 2004. For each litter, mean BW0 (mBW0) and its coefficient of variation (CVBW0) were calculated. Then, variance analyses were performed to test the influence of litter size, parity, year of sow birth and season at conception. Prolificacy improvement was associated with an increased CVBW0 in litters from pure Large White (LW) and Landrace × Large White (LR × LW) crossbred sows. The CVBW0 averaged 21% and was significantly influenced by litter size and parity. It increased from 15% to 24% when litter size varied from less than 10 piglets to more than 15 piglets. The proportion of small piglets (i.e. weighing less than 1 kg) increased concomitantly. The CVBW0 was not repeatable from a parity to the following. It was lowest for first and second parities (20%) and thereafter increased progressively. The CVBW0 was positively related to sow's backfat thickness gain during gestation. Taking into account litter size, parity, year of sow birth and season at conception explained 20% of BW0 variation. Thus, major part of heterogeneity is due to other factors, presumably including embryo genotype, on the one hand, and factors that influence embryo and foetus development, such as epigenetic factors, on the other hand.     

撒坝猪血清酯酶多态性与繁殖性能关系的研究

采用垂直板聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳法(PAGE), 对115头撒坝猪的血清酯酶(ES)多态性进行了检测,计算了该位点的基因型频率、基因频率和位点多态杂合度(h),并用二因素有互作的最小二乘模型对血清酯酶多态性与繁殖性能的关系进行了分析。结果表明,撒坝猪血清酯酶3种基因型AA、AB和BB的频率分别为0.2696、0.5826和0.1478。两个等位基因A和B的基因频率分别为0.5609和0.4391。该位点的杂合度为0.4926。在3种基因型中,不同基因型母猪的繁殖性能在产仔数、仔猪初生窝重、20日龄窝重、断奶仔猪数和断奶窝重等性状上存在着显著差异(P<0.05);公、母猪不同基因型交配组合在产仔数、断奶仔猪数、仔猪断奶体重和断奶窝重等性状上亦有显著差异(P<0.05)。显示出猪的血清酯酶多态性可望作为繁殖性能选种的遗传标记。 Abstract：　Serum esterase polymorphisms of 115 Saba pigs were investigated by using the method of vertical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The genotype frequency, gene frequency and heterozygosity of this locus were calculated. The relationship between the serum esterase polymorphism and reproductive performance was analyzed by the least square analysis of two factors (ES genotype of boar and sow) with interaction. The results demonstrated that the genotype frequency of AA, ABandBBwas 0.2696, 0.5826 and 0.1478 respectively, the gene frequency of the alleleAandBwas 0.5609 and 0.4391 respectively. The heterozygosity of this locus was 0.4926. There are significant differences (P<0.05) on litter size, litter weight at birth, litter weight at 20 days, litter size at weaning and litter weight at weaning of different genotypic sows. The significant differences (P<0.05) were showed on litter size, litter size at weaning, weaning weight and litter weight at weaning of different genotypic mating combinations. It indicated that the serum esterase polymorphism was expected to be the genetic marker of pig reproductive performance.     

Genetic parameters for growth, reproductive and maternal traits in a multibreed meat sheep population

The genetic parameters for growth, reproductive and maternal traits in a multibreed meat sheep population were estimated by applying the Average Information Restricted Maximum Likelihood method to an animal model. Data from a flock supported by the Programa de Melhoramento Genético de Caprinos e Ovinos de Corte (GENECOC) were used. The traits studied included birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), slaughter weight (SW), yearling weight (YW), weight gain from birth to weaning (GBW), weight gain from weaning to slaughter (GWS), weight gain from weaning to yearling (GWY), age at first lambing (AFL), lambing interval (LI), gestation length (GL), lambing date (LD - number of days between the start of breeding season and lambing), litter weight at birth (LWB) and litter weight at weaning (LWW). The direct heritabilities were 0.35, 0.81, 0.65, 0.49, 0.20, 0.15 and 0.39 for BW, WW, SW, YW, GBW, GWS and GWY, respectively, and 0.04, 0.06, 0.10, 0.05, 0.15 and 0.11 for AFL, LI, GL, LD, LWB and LWW, respectively. Positive genetic correlations were observed among body weights. In contrast, there was a negative genetic correlation between GBW and GWS (-0.49) and GBW and GWY (-0.56). Positive genetic correlations were observed between AFL and LI, LI and GL, and LWB and LWW. These results indicate a strong maternal influence in this herd and the presence of sufficient genetic variation to allow mass selection for growth traits. Additive effects were of little importance for reproductive traits, and other strategies are necessary to improve the performance of these animals.     

猪乳中一组高分子量蛋白的多态性与乳生长因子、窝增重的关系

利用十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶不连续垂直板电泳(SDS-PAGE),对162头二花脸母猪乳中一组高分子量蛋白质(HMWP)进行了检测和分型,并运用线型模型统计分析方法分析了该基因座的不同基因型与母猪的乳生长因子(IGF-1、EGF和胰岛素)、哺乳仔猪生长(20日龄窝增重)的关系.结果表明,在三种HMWP基因型中,不同基因型母猪的乳中IGF-1浓度存在显著差异,HMWP基因型为BB型和BD型的母猪,其乳IGF-1浓度均高于DD型,其中BB型显著高于DD型(P＜0.05).乳中胰岛素浓度也存在差异的趋势,但未达到显著水平(P＞0.05),BB型和BD型母猪的乳中胰岛素浓度高于DD型.HMWP基因座不同基因型的乳EGF浓度无显著差异(P＞0.05).在三种HMWP基因型中,不同基因型母猪的20日龄窝增重存在显著差异,HMWP基因座为BB型和BD型的母猪,其20日龄窝增重均高于DD型,其中BD型显著高于DD型(P＜0.05).实验结果提示,HMWP多态性可能作为一个潜在的遗传标记应用于猪的遗传育种.     

Association of an insulin-like growth factor 1 gene microsatellite with phenotypic variation and estimated breeding values of growth traits in Canchim cattle

A population of 1398 Canchim (CA) cattle was genotyped to assess the association of an insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) gene microsatellite with phenotypic variation and estimated breeding values of pre-weaning, weaning and post-weaning growth traits. After an initial analysis, the IGF1 genotype only had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on birth weight (BW) and weaning weight adjusted to 240 days (WW240). For these two traits, direct and maternal breeding values were estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood (reml). Two analyses were carried out. In the first (Model I), all fixed effects were fitted. In the second (Model II), the fixed effect of the IGF1 genotype was omitted. The estimated genetic and phenotypic components of variance were similar for every trait in both models. For Model I, estimated direct and maternal heritabilities were 0.26 and 0.16 for BW and 0.23 and 0.14 for WW240 respectively. The genetic and phenotypic correlations between BW and WW240 were 0.38 and 0.38 (Model I) and 0.19 and 0.38 (Model II) respectively. Fifty animals were classified according to their direct and maternal breeding values for both traits. Spearman rank-order correlation between animal rankings in the two models was used to assess the effect of including the IGF1 genotype in the model. Non-significant values from this correlation were indicative of a difference in breeding value rankings between the two approaches. The IGF1 gene was found to be associated with phenotypic variation and breeding values in the early phase of growth.     

Body development in sows, feed intake and maternal capacity. Part 2: gilt body condition before and after lactation, reproductive performance and correlations with lactation feed intake

Data on sow body weight (BW) and fatness (n = ~2250 pregnant sows) and reproductive data (including historical: n = ~18 000) were used to examine the genetic and phenotypic associations between body condition before and after farrowing, gestational outcomes, lactation feed intake and the gilts' ability to survive unculled to farrow in the second parity. Within-trait genetic correlations were very high between weight (0.77 ± 0.06) and fat depth (0.91 ± 0.04) recorded before farrowing and at weaning. Litter size traits were generally uncorrelated genetically with aspects of sow BW and body condition. However, genetic correlations indicated that sows producing heavier piglets at birth had litters with increased gain (0.36 ± 0.16), and were characterised by greater weight (-0.72 ± 0.08) and fat change (-0.19 ± 0.15) during lactation, reflected to a lesser extent by lower weight (-0.12 ± 0.11) and fatness (-0.17 ± 0.10) at weaning. Genetic correlations (r(a)) between reproductive traits and lactation feed intake were generally low, but favourable. However, lactation intake was positively correlated with measures of sow size (r(a) = ~0.55), such that selection for lactation feed intake would likely be accompanied by increased mature sow size. Phenotypic correlations (r(p)) showed that sow survival to the second parity (FAR12) was positively influenced by litter size and fat depth at weaning, supporting attributes of increased fatness before farrowing, less weight loss during lactation and an increased lactation intake.     

Effect of polymorphism in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma gene on litter size of pigs

The association of polymorphisms in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) gene with litter size was studied in Large White and Landrace pig. Three SNP loci (P1, P2 and P7) on PPARγ₂ gene were determined by PCR–SSCP and the results showed that there were A → G mutations at 220 and 324 bp in 5′-regulator region and at 147 bp in exon 6, respectively. Allele frequencies were analysed in two breeds. Information on 2341 litter records from 564 sows was used to analyse the trait total number born (TNB) and number born alive (NBA). In Large White, TNB and NBA of genotype BB for P2 locus were the lowest, and the TNB and NBA of third and following parities and all parities were 0.74 and 0.51 piglets per litter less (P < 0.001) than those of the highest genotype AB, respectively, but for P1 and P7 locus the beneficial genotype AA were more 0.4–0.8 piglets per litter (P < 0.05) than the inferior genotype AB. In landrace, TNB and NBA of the first parity of genotype BB for P1 locus were 2.0 piglets per litter higher than AA (P < 0.05), but for all parities the TNB and NBA of genotype BB were 0.66 and 0.97 piglets per litter (P < 0.05) higher than AA, respectively. At P2 locus, the TNB and NBA of the second parity of genotype AA were obviously higher than those of AB (P < 0.05). And at P7 locus, the TNB and NBA of each parity of genotype AA were both about 2 piglets per litter more than those of BB (P < 0.05). The results indicated that PPARγ gene was significantly associated with litter size in pigs.