Unveiling genetic potential for equine meat production : a bioinformatics approach

Šimon, Martin (author), Kaić, Ana (author), Potočnik, Klemen (author)

In view of the predicted significant increase in global meat production, alternative sources such as horsemeat are becoming increasingly important due to their lower environmental impact and high nutritional value. This study aimed to identify SNP markers on the GeneSeek® Genomic Profiler™ Equine (Neogen, Lansing, MI, USA) that are important for horsemeat production traits. First, orthologous genes related to meat yield in cattle and common genes between horses and cattle within QTLs for body size and weight were identified. Markers for these genes were then evaluated based on predicted variant consequences, GERP scores, and positions within constrained elements and orthologous regulatory regions in pigs. A total of 268 markers in 57 genes related to meat production were analyzed. This resulted in 27 prioritized SNP markers in 22 genes, including notable markers in LCORL, LASP1, IGF1R, and MSTN. These results will benefit smallholder farmers by providing genetic insights for selective breeding that could improve meat yield. This study also supports future large-scale genetic analyses such as GWAS and Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (GBLUP). The results of this study may be helpful in improving the accuracy of genomic breeding values. However, limitations include reliance on bioinformatics without experimental validation. Future research can validate these markers and consider a wider range of traits to ensure accuracy in equine breeding.

• Language: English
• Keywords: bioinformatics, equine genomics, horsemeat production, selective breeding, SNP markers
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: 22 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 14, iss. 16, art. 2441
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-162455
• UDC: 636.1:637.5
• ISSN on article: 2076-2615
• DOI: 10.3390/ani14162441
• COBISS.SI-ID: 205403651
• Publication date in RUL: 02.10.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Animals
• Shortened title: Animals
• Publisher: MDPI AG
• ISSN: 2076-2615
• COBISS.SI-ID: 519120409

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: konji, meso, prireja, genetika, bioinformatika

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P4-0092
• Name: Zdravje živali, okolje in varna hrana