Association between the MUC4 g.243A>G Polymorphism and Production Performance of Landrace and Yorkshire Pigs in Vietnam

Abstract

Porcine mucin 4 (MUC4) is a candidate gene for controlling the adhesion of the enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) F4 receptor. Polymorphisms of the MUC4 gene have been used as markers to identify the susceptibility of neonatal diarrhea in piglets for breeding selection. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of MUC4 g.243A>G polymorphisms on the production traits of Landrace and Yorkshire pigs in Vietnam. A total of 1,057 Landrace and 1,361 Yorkshire piglets were used to estimate the allelic and genotypic frequencies of the polymorphisms. Body weights at birth, at weaning, at initial fattening (IBW), and at the end of fattening period (FBW), backfat thickness (BFT), and depth of the longissimus dorsi muscle (DLD) were measured and lean meat percentage was estimated. Frequency of the susceptibility allele A to ETEC was higher than the resistance allele G for both breeds based on genotyping piglet tails collected at birth. The AA, AG, and GG genotypes were present in Yorkshire while GG was not found in Landrace. The production traits were not affected (P >0.05) by MUC4 polymorphisms except BFT and DLD (P <0.05). There were interactions between gender and MUC4 genotype (P <0.05) for IBW, FBW, average daily gain, and DLD. These traits of GG males were significantly higher than those of GG females (P <0.05). The results suggest that selecting pigs carrying the GG genotype of MUC4, known as providing resistance to ETEC, do not negatively affect productive performance in Landrace and Yorkshire pigs.