The pig breeding industry is constantly exploring new approaches to determine novel phenotypic traits that can enhance selection programs and breeding strategies. This shift toward more detailed phenotypes, beyond traditional production and performance traits, also aligns with the increasing developments of high-throughput technologies for molecular phenotyping. Traditional final phenotypes are the result of complex molecular pathways and interactions, and molecular phenotypes, such as circulating metabolites, can help connect different layers of complexity. The objective of this study was to analyze the blood metabolome of pigs to evaluate their adaptation to heat stress conditions and identify relevant markers. Approximately 700 plasma metabolites were measured in 300 growing male Duroc pigs of a highly selected line, using an untargeted metabolomic platform from Metabolon. All pigs were genotyped with around 40,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). GEMMA was used to estimate heritability and compute genome wide association studies. Heritability ranged from 0.0 to 0.83, with an overall average of 0.18 ± 0.15. A total of 120 metabolites showed significant associations (P < 1.3 × 10−06) with the analyzed SNP markers, whereas 400 metabolites showed suggestive associations (P < 5.5 × 10−05). Most associated SNPs identified genes encoding enzymes either involved with the metabolites as substrates or products, or encoding transporters or regulators of the corresponding associated metabolites. These results indicate that pig metabolism is controlled by many genetic factors that can help understanding the complexity of final traditional phenotypes. Additionally, disclosing the genetic mechanisms behind pig metabolism paves the way to enhance pig selection programs, with the ultimate aim of improving the sustainability of the pig production industry. Acknowledgments: This study received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under grant agreement no. 01059609 (Re-Livestock Project).
Bovo, S., Bolner, M., Lewis, C., Holl, J., Valente, B., Schiavo, G., et al. (2025). Combining metabolomics and genomics to describe genetic factors affecting the metabolism in growing Duroc male pigs.
Combining metabolomics and genomics to describe genetic factors affecting the metabolism in growing Duroc male pigs
S. Bovo
;M. Bolner;G. Schiavo;F. Bertolini;L. Fontanesi
2025
Abstract
The pig breeding industry is constantly exploring new approaches to determine novel phenotypic traits that can enhance selection programs and breeding strategies. This shift toward more detailed phenotypes, beyond traditional production and performance traits, also aligns with the increasing developments of high-throughput technologies for molecular phenotyping. Traditional final phenotypes are the result of complex molecular pathways and interactions, and molecular phenotypes, such as circulating metabolites, can help connect different layers of complexity. The objective of this study was to analyze the blood metabolome of pigs to evaluate their adaptation to heat stress conditions and identify relevant markers. Approximately 700 plasma metabolites were measured in 300 growing male Duroc pigs of a highly selected line, using an untargeted metabolomic platform from Metabolon. All pigs were genotyped with around 40,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). GEMMA was used to estimate heritability and compute genome wide association studies. Heritability ranged from 0.0 to 0.83, with an overall average of 0.18 ± 0.15. A total of 120 metabolites showed significant associations (P < 1.3 × 10−06) with the analyzed SNP markers, whereas 400 metabolites showed suggestive associations (P < 5.5 × 10−05). Most associated SNPs identified genes encoding enzymes either involved with the metabolites as substrates or products, or encoding transporters or regulators of the corresponding associated metabolites. These results indicate that pig metabolism is controlled by many genetic factors that can help understanding the complexity of final traditional phenotypes. Additionally, disclosing the genetic mechanisms behind pig metabolism paves the way to enhance pig selection programs, with the ultimate aim of improving the sustainability of the pig production industry. Acknowledgments: This study received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under grant agreement no. 01059609 (Re-Livestock Project).I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
