GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF PIGS WITH DIFFERENT GENOTYPES OF SLC11A1 AND FUT1 DNA MARKER

The article highlights the results of research of the growth and development characteristics of pigs with different genotypes of DNA markers of resistance to infectious diseases. 
The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of genes polymorphisms related to disease resistance on the growth and development of pigs and to assess the feasibility of using these markers in selection with the Large White breed. In order to achieve the goal, a number of tasks were solved: typing of SLC11A1 (NRAMP1) and FUT1 genes of the breeding herd of pigs of the inbred type UVB-3 (factory type "Bagachansky"); based on the results of typing, sub-experimental groups were formed and the growth and development of pigs of different genotypes were studied; an assessment of the influence of the specified DNA markers on absolute and relative growth, intensity of formation, tension and uniformity of growth of the experimental stock was carried out; the prospects of selection work based on the investigated DNA markers are determined. 
Material and methods. The research was carried out on purebred Large White pigs of the farm type "Bagachansky" of the farm "Plehiv-Agro" of the Poltava region. Genetic studies were carried out at the Institute of Pig Breeding and Agro-Industrial Production of the National Academy of Sciences. DNA typing was performed by the PCR-RFLP method. The live weight of experimental animals was determined monthly starting from weaning at 28 days until reaching the age of six months. Based on the results of weighing, average daily gain, absolute and relative growth, as well as indices of formation intensity, tension and uniformity of growth were calculated. Statistical processing of the obtained data was carried out using the Genalex 6 and Microsoft Excel 2019 programs. 
Results and conclusions. It was established that experimental pigs have a sufficiently high level of polymorphism for genetic markers SLC11A1/HinfI 334 C > T and FUT1 SNP g. 307 G > A to carry out an associative analysis. The Polymorphism Information Content index of according to these markers was equal to 0.350 and 0.320 units, respectively, which testifies to the value of the farm type "Bagachanskyi" for preserving the genetic diversity of pigs. It was established that the TT genotype of the DNA marker SLC11A1/HinfI 334 (associated with increased general resistance to infectious diseases) has a positive effect on the intensity of growth of pigs, as evidenced by higher growth after rearing and a 4.86% higher live weight at the age of 6 months (p < 0.05). The AA genotype of the DNA marker FUT1 g.307 G > A (associated with resistance to colibacteriosis) had a positive effect on the uniformity of growth of pigs, at the same time, the growth intensity of the influence of this marker was not detected, which indicates the feasibility of carrying out selection work on this gene to create a line pigs resistant to colibacteriosis. However, among animals with different FUT1 g.307 G > A genotypes, homozygotes with the G allele (susceptible to colibacteriosis) had the highest formation intensity, the difference was 12.19%. Probably, after weaning, piglets susceptible to the disease reduced growth rates after inoculation with opportunistic microorganisms, and after the completion of the infectious process, compensatory growth occurred. This assumption is consistent with the decrease in relative gains in piglets with genotype GG and AG in the period of 28–60 days and the increase in relative gains in these two groups in the period of 2–3 months. Whereas, in the group of piglets with the FUT1 AA genotype, the relative growth constantly decreased with age. 
Genotypes associated with better resistance to infectious diseases SLC11A1/HinfI 334 TT and FUT1 AA are characterized by lower intensity of formation and better uniformity of growth, which positively affected the fattening productivity and can be used in selection work. No negative impact of genotypes associated with increased resistance to infectious diseases (and in some cases a positive impact was established) on the growth and development of experimental pigs was found. Marker-associated selection based on the studied genes will contribute to the creation of new structural elements of a Large White breed of pigs with increased growth intensity and improved resistance to infectious diseases.