Candidate gene markers for reproductive traits in Polish 990 pig line

The follicle-stimulating hormone (FSHB), the prolactin (PRL) and prolactin receptor (PRLR) genes were examined as candidate genes for swine reproductive traits. The experimental material included 444 sows of the Polish synthetic line 990. The following traits were included in the study: total number born (TNB), number born alive (NBA) number of piglets at 21 days of age (NP21), number of weaned piglets, litter weight at 21 days of age, litter weight at weaning. The PRL locus genotype was found to have a significant effect (pless than or equal to0.01) on the TNB, NBA and NP21 based on analysis of sows records from second and later parities. The effect of PRLR genotype was significant (p<0.05) for the NBA for sows during first parity. No significant effects of the FSHB sow genotype were found in part because of a low frequency of one of the homozygous genotypes at this locus observed in the tested material.