Exploring Genetic Influences on Equine Meat Quality: A Bioinformatics Approach

Area of Science:

• Animal Genetics
• Nutritional Science
• Food Science

Background:

• Horsemeat offers high nutritional value and a lower environmental impact than beef but lacks genetic research for quality improvement.
• No Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) for horsemeat quality have been identified, hindering breeding efforts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and prioritize Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers on the GeneSeek GenomicProfiler Equine chip for horsemeat quality traits.
• To provide genetic insights for improving horsemeat quality and supporting breeding programs.

Main Methods:

• Genes associated with meat quality were identified via PubMed search.
• SNPs with potential regulatory/functional effects were analyzed using GERP scores, orthologous regions, and regulatory element analysis.
• Prioritization included genes with orthologs in QTLs for meat quality in other species and linkage disequilibrium analysis with Animal-SNPAtlas data.

Main Results:

• 27 SNP markers associated with 19 genes were identified.
• Key candidate genes include those involved in metabolic pathways (e.g., ALDOA, SDHB) and muscle structure/development (e.g., MYL11, RYR3).
• Identified SNPs provide a foundation for genetic selection in horse breeding for enhanced meat quality.

Conclusions:

• This research offers valuable genetic markers to improve horsemeat quality.
• The findings can assist breeders and smallholder farmers in developing effective breeding programs for better meat production.
• Integration with larger datasets can enhance breeding value predictions and optimize genetic selection strategies.