Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Carcass and Meat Quality Traits Using Genomic Information in Yorkshire Pigs

Carcass and meat quality traits are critical in pig breeding and production. Estimating genetic parameters for these traits is a vital aspect of breeding engineering, as accurate genetic parameters are essential for estimating breeding values, predicting genetic progress, and optimizing breeding pro...

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Main Authors: Yangxun Zheng, Fuping Ma, Xitong Zhao, Yanling Liu, Quan Zou, Huatao Liu, Shujuan Li, Zipeng Zhang, Sen Yang, Kai Xing, Chuduan Wang, Xiangdong Ding
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/14/2075
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author Yangxun Zheng
Fuping Ma
Xitong Zhao
Yanling Liu
Quan Zou
Huatao Liu
Shujuan Li
Zipeng Zhang
Sen Yang
Kai Xing
Chuduan Wang
Xiangdong Ding
author_facet Yangxun Zheng
Fuping Ma
Xitong Zhao
Yanling Liu
Quan Zou
Huatao Liu
Shujuan Li
Zipeng Zhang
Sen Yang
Kai Xing
Chuduan Wang
Xiangdong Ding
author_sort Yangxun Zheng
collection DOAJ
description Carcass and meat quality traits are critical in pig breeding and production. Estimating genetic parameters for these traits is a vital aspect of breeding engineering, as accurate genetic parameters are essential for estimating breeding values, predicting genetic progress, and optimizing breeding programs. This study was conducted on a population of 461 Yorkshire pigs from the same breeding farm, which were slaughtered to assess nine carcass traits and seven meat quality traits, followed by descriptive statistical analysis. Additionally, we estimated the genetic parameters of these traits using genomic information based on 50K chip data. The results indicated that sex significantly affected most carcass and meat quality traits. Carcass traits including carcass length indicators (h<sup>2</sup> = mean 0.35), backfat thickness indicators (h<sup>2</sup> = mean 0.36), eye muscle area (h<sup>2</sup> = 0.28), and the number of rib pairs (h<sup>2</sup> = 0.28) exhibited medium to high heritability. Carcass length indicators showed high genetic correlations with backfat thickness indicators (r = mean −0.49) and the number of rib pairs (r = mean 0.63), while high negative genetic correlation (r = −0.72) was noted between eye muscle area and the number of rib pairs. Meat quality traits also displayed medium to high heritability, expect for pH value measured within one hour post-slaughter (h<sup>2</sup> = 0.12). Drip loss indicators had higher genetic correlations with pH (r = mean −0.73) than with meat color indicators (r = mean 0.22). These findings may provide a theoretical reference for genetic evaluation and breeding in the Yorkshire pig population.
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spelling doaj-art-e2e72a28a8f349e5855d217c435a30422025-08-20T02:45:42ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-07-011514207510.3390/ani15142075Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Carcass and Meat Quality Traits Using Genomic Information in Yorkshire PigsYangxun Zheng0Fuping Ma1Xitong Zhao2Yanling Liu3Quan Zou4Huatao Liu5Shujuan Li6Zipeng Zhang7Sen Yang8Kai Xing9Chuduan Wang10Xiangdong Ding11State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaBeijing Shunxin Agriculture Co., Ltd., Beijing 101300, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaBeijing Shunxin Agriculture Co., Ltd., Beijing 101300, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaCarcass and meat quality traits are critical in pig breeding and production. Estimating genetic parameters for these traits is a vital aspect of breeding engineering, as accurate genetic parameters are essential for estimating breeding values, predicting genetic progress, and optimizing breeding programs. This study was conducted on a population of 461 Yorkshire pigs from the same breeding farm, which were slaughtered to assess nine carcass traits and seven meat quality traits, followed by descriptive statistical analysis. Additionally, we estimated the genetic parameters of these traits using genomic information based on 50K chip data. The results indicated that sex significantly affected most carcass and meat quality traits. Carcass traits including carcass length indicators (h<sup>2</sup> = mean 0.35), backfat thickness indicators (h<sup>2</sup> = mean 0.36), eye muscle area (h<sup>2</sup> = 0.28), and the number of rib pairs (h<sup>2</sup> = 0.28) exhibited medium to high heritability. Carcass length indicators showed high genetic correlations with backfat thickness indicators (r = mean −0.49) and the number of rib pairs (r = mean 0.63), while high negative genetic correlation (r = −0.72) was noted between eye muscle area and the number of rib pairs. Meat quality traits also displayed medium to high heritability, expect for pH value measured within one hour post-slaughter (h<sup>2</sup> = 0.12). Drip loss indicators had higher genetic correlations with pH (r = mean −0.73) than with meat color indicators (r = mean 0.22). These findings may provide a theoretical reference for genetic evaluation and breeding in the Yorkshire pig population.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/14/2075carcass traitsmeat qualityphenotypic correlationgenetic correlationheritabilityYorkshire
spellingShingle Yangxun Zheng
Fuping Ma
Xitong Zhao
Yanling Liu
Quan Zou
Huatao Liu
Shujuan Li
Zipeng Zhang
Sen Yang
Kai Xing
Chuduan Wang
Xiangdong Ding
Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Carcass and Meat Quality Traits Using Genomic Information in Yorkshire Pigs
Animals
carcass traits
meat quality
phenotypic correlation
genetic correlation
heritability
Yorkshire
title Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Carcass and Meat Quality Traits Using Genomic Information in Yorkshire Pigs
title_full Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Carcass and Meat Quality Traits Using Genomic Information in Yorkshire Pigs
title_fullStr Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Carcass and Meat Quality Traits Using Genomic Information in Yorkshire Pigs
title_full_unstemmed Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Carcass and Meat Quality Traits Using Genomic Information in Yorkshire Pigs
title_short Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Carcass and Meat Quality Traits Using Genomic Information in Yorkshire Pigs
title_sort estimation of genetic parameters for carcass and meat quality traits using genomic information in yorkshire pigs
topic carcass traits
meat quality
phenotypic correlation
genetic correlation
heritability
Yorkshire
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/14/2075
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AT xitongzhao estimationofgeneticparametersforcarcassandmeatqualitytraitsusinggenomicinformationinyorkshirepigs
AT yanlingliu estimationofgeneticparametersforcarcassandmeatqualitytraitsusinggenomicinformationinyorkshirepigs
AT quanzou estimationofgeneticparametersforcarcassandmeatqualitytraitsusinggenomicinformationinyorkshirepigs
AT huataoliu estimationofgeneticparametersforcarcassandmeatqualitytraitsusinggenomicinformationinyorkshirepigs
AT shujuanli estimationofgeneticparametersforcarcassandmeatqualitytraitsusinggenomicinformationinyorkshirepigs
AT zipengzhang estimationofgeneticparametersforcarcassandmeatqualitytraitsusinggenomicinformationinyorkshirepigs
AT senyang estimationofgeneticparametersforcarcassandmeatqualitytraitsusinggenomicinformationinyorkshirepigs
AT kaixing estimationofgeneticparametersforcarcassandmeatqualitytraitsusinggenomicinformationinyorkshirepigs
AT chuduanwang estimationofgeneticparametersforcarcassandmeatqualitytraitsusinggenomicinformationinyorkshirepigs
AT xiangdongding estimationofgeneticparametersforcarcassandmeatqualitytraitsusinggenomicinformationinyorkshirepigs