Association of GHRH, H-FABP and MYOG Polymorphisms with Economic Traits in Pigs

The study of candidate genes is an important tool to identify genes associated with economic traits. Three genes were selected to study the association between polymorphism and economic traits and breed of pigs. Growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) takes part in growth metabolism and is one of the candidate genes known to be highly associated with economic traits in pigs. Heart fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) is related to back fat thickness and intramuscular fat (IMF) content, and myogenin (MYOG) is associated with the amount of growth rate and lean yield in pigs. By PCR-RFLP analysis, the association between the genotypes of the three genes and the average daily gain, back fat thickness, feed conversion, body length and meat percent in 352 pigs (112 Duroc pigs, 132 Landrace pigs and 108 Yorkshire pigs) were analyzed. GHRH polymorphisms showed differences depending on breed (p