T. D. Leeds*, K. M. Irvin, and S. J. Moeller.
Department of
Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210 USA.
The association
between the estrogen receptor (ESR) locus and developmental, growth, and
carcass traits in pigs was investigated in a population of purebred and
crossbred Large White and Yorkshire animals.
A total of 724 animals were genotyped at the ESR locus and were measured
for traits including individual birth weight (IBW), average daily gain, loin
muscle area, and backfat thickness (BF).
Data were analyzed using a linear model including the fixed effects of
ESR genotype, breed, gender, season, parity and appropriate interactions. ESR genotype had a significant effect on BF
(P=0.033) and a nominally significant effect on IBW (P=0.068). Animals with at least one copy of the B
allele had 0.155 ± 0.058 cm more BF. This study
gives evidence of a QTL in the vicinity of the ESR locus affecting BF and IBW.
Leeds, T. D., K. M. Irvin, and S. J. Moeller. 2002. The association between the estrogen receptor locus and growth, carcass, and developmental traits in pigs. Proceedings of 7th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production. CD-ROM communication no 03-26.