SNaPshot minisequencing and a panel of candidate genes for complex routine testing of meat performance traits in pigs

The aim of the study was to introduce a convenient method for identification of differences among individual animals in genes supposed to influence meat performance in pigs. The set of seven candidate genes (IGF2, FOS, MC4R, DGAT1, MYF4, MYF, and MC3R) was used. To determine the genotypes, multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and minisequencing using SNaPshot system (Applied Biosystems; Forster City, CA, USA) were applied. The efficiency of this gene panel for routine testing in pigs was verified in the Black Pied Prestice pig breed by the statistical general linear model. The results showed that both the method and the gene panel are convenient for meat quality testing and offer reproducible results.