Effect of the Halothane Allele on Growth Performance of Pigs and its Genotype Frequencies in the Progeny

Abstract

A total of 395 tail samples of stress negative Piétrain new born piglets from the pig farm of Dong Hiep Haiphong were used to determine halothane genotypes (CC, CT and TT) in order to study the effect of mating type (♂CC×♀CC, ♂CC×♀CT, ♂CT×♀CC, and ♂CT×♀CT) on halothane genotype frequencies. Effects of genotype on live weight (174 pigs of 2 month old, 96 pigs of 5.5 month old), back fat thickness, loin muscle thickness and lean percentage (117 pigs), average daily gain (89 pigs) were also studied. Results showed that the mating type affected halothane genotype frequencies in the progeny. For the mating type ♂CC×♀CT and ♂CT×♀CT, the genotype containing allele T was reduced in the next generation; in the rest two genotypes (♂CC×♀CC and ♂CT×♀CC) the halothane allele frequency in the offspring was consistent with the theoretical frequency. The halothane genotypes CC and CT did not affect live weights at 2.0 and 5.5 months of age, average daily gain, back fat thickness, loin muscle thickness and lean percentage