Association of FTH and EPOR gene polymorphisms with litter size traits in pigs
Authors:   Department of Animal and Aquatic Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, Center of Excellence on Agricultural Biotechnology: (AG-BIO/MHESI), Bangkok 10900, Thailand, Mekchay Supamit ,   Cluster of Research and Development of Pharmaceutical and Natural Products Innovation for Human or Animal, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand,   Innovative Agriculture Research Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, Norseeda Worrarak ,   Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Lampang Rajabhat University, Lampang 52100, Thailand, Pothakam Nanthana ,   Veterinary, Conservation and Research Section, Animal Management Division, Chiang Mai Night Safari, Chiang Mai 50230, Thailand, Liu Guisheng ,   Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, China,   Hubei Key Lab for Animal Embryo Engineering and Molecular Breeding, Wuhan 430064, China, Teltathum Tawatchai ,   Mae Hong Son Livestock Research and Breeding Center, Mae Hong Son 58000, Thailand, Sringarm Korawan ,   Department of Animal and Aquatic Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand,   Cluster of Research and Development of Pharmaceutical and Natural Products Innovation for Human or Animal, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, Naraballobh Watcharapong ,   Department of Animal and Aquatic Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand,   Innovative Agriculture Research Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, Khamlor Trisadee ,   Department of Animal and Aquatic Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, Krutmuang Patcharin ,   Innovative Agriculture Research Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand,   Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Published: March 2022

Ferritin heavy chain (FTH) and erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) are responsible for the iron homeostasis and the erythropoiesis that correlate to the reproductive systems. This study aimed to examine an association of the porcine FTH and EPOR genes with litter size traits in Large White and Landrace pigs. The porcine FTH g.9537834G > A was significantly associated with the total number born (TNB) trait in these pig populations (p < 0.05). The porcine FTH g.9537855T > C was significantly associated with the TNB trait in Large White sows (p < 0.05) as well as the TNB and the number of birth alive (NBA) traits in Landrace sows (p < 0.05). The porcine EPOR g.70066473C > T was significantly associated with the TNB trait in Large White sows (p < 0.05) as well as the TNB, NBA, and the number of piglets weaned alive (NWA) traits in Landrace sows (p < 0.05). Moreover, the accumulated favorable alleles of these three SNPs were increasingly associated with TNB trait in Large White sows (p < 0.05) and TNB, NBA, and NWA traits in Landrace sows (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that porcine FTH and EPOR genes may contribute to the reproductive processes of pigs with regards to litter size and confirm the importance of these genes as candidate genes for improving litter size in pigs.