Effect of the insulin-like growth factor-II and RYR1 genotype in pigs on carcass and meat quality traits

Recently, a new QTN (quantitative trait nucleotide), which is located in the regulatory sequence of the imprinted IGF-II gene was discovered in the pig and is associated with a significant increase in IGF-II mRNA expression in skeletal muscle during postnatal growth. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of the IGF-II paternal allele (Apat and Gpat animals that inherited, respectively, the mutant and wild type paternal allele of interest) on carcass and meat quality traits in Nn and NN RYR1 genotypes. A total of 141 animals were measured, almost equally distributed over the IGF-II and RYR1 genotypes and gender. The Apat allele increased carcass lean meat percentage with approximately 4.5% (P < 0.001) as a result of decreased backfat thickness. Average live weight daily gain was not affected, hence average daily lean meat gain was significantly higher for Apat compared to Gpat animals. The IGF-II mutation had no noticeable effect on meat quality in contrast with the RYR1 mutation. No interaction effects of both mutations on meat quality were noticed.