To enhance selection programs and develop novel breeding strategies, the pig production sector continuously explores new phenotypic traits, expanding the traditional phenotypic landscape, which has typically focused on final phenotypes such as production and performance traits. Final phenotypes are complex, influenced by many external and molecular interactions at the organismal level. These influences can be broken down by studying molecular layers or intermediate phenotypes, such as the metabolome. This study aims to genetically dissect pig metabolism to identify markers associated with the adaptation to heat-stress conditions. About 700 blood plasma metabolites were quantified through an untargeted metabolomic platform on 300 growing male Duroc pigs. Additionally, genotypes for ~40,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms were obtained for the same animals. The pigs were from two groups with extreme and divergent values for feed intake under heat-stress conditions. Genomic heritability estimates and genome wide associations for the level of metabolites were calculated using GEMMA. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.0 to 0.83 (average = 0.18; s.d. = 0.15). We found suggestive (P < 5.5×10-05) and significant (P < 1.3×10-06) marker associations for 400 and 102 metabolites, respectively. Most of these associations were between markers in enzyme-encoding genes and metabolites that either serve as substrates or final products of the corresponding genes. Overall, these newly identified genetic determinants of pig metabolism serve as (i) a novel source of information for indirectly explaining complex traits, including resilience to heat stress, proxied using feed intake measures; and (ii) new genetic markers for fine-tuning selection programs to enhance the sustainability and resilience of pig production. 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). Untargeted metabolomics describes genetic factors that influence pig metabolism for adaptation traits in a Duroc line.
Untargeted metabolomics describes genetic factors that influence pig metabolism for adaptation traits in a Duroc line
S. Bovo;M. Bolner;G. Schiavo;F. Bertolini;L. Fontanesi
2025
Abstract
To enhance selection programs and develop novel breeding strategies, the pig production sector continuously explores new phenotypic traits, expanding the traditional phenotypic landscape, which has typically focused on final phenotypes such as production and performance traits. Final phenotypes are complex, influenced by many external and molecular interactions at the organismal level. These influences can be broken down by studying molecular layers or intermediate phenotypes, such as the metabolome. This study aims to genetically dissect pig metabolism to identify markers associated with the adaptation to heat-stress conditions. About 700 blood plasma metabolites were quantified through an untargeted metabolomic platform on 300 growing male Duroc pigs. Additionally, genotypes for ~40,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms were obtained for the same animals. The pigs were from two groups with extreme and divergent values for feed intake under heat-stress conditions. Genomic heritability estimates and genome wide associations for the level of metabolites were calculated using GEMMA. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.0 to 0.83 (average = 0.18; s.d. = 0.15). We found suggestive (P < 5.5×10-05) and significant (P < 1.3×10-06) marker associations for 400 and 102 metabolites, respectively. Most of these associations were between markers in enzyme-encoding genes and metabolites that either serve as substrates or final products of the corresponding genes. Overall, these newly identified genetic determinants of pig metabolism serve as (i) a novel source of information for indirectly explaining complex traits, including resilience to heat stress, proxied using feed intake measures; and (ii) new genetic markers for fine-tuning selection programs to enhance the sustainability and resilience of pig production. 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.
