The use of genetic markers in swine. II. Performance and meat quality traits

Abstract

According to FAO, it is expected that the world population grow more than 50% by 2030. The use of biotechnologies seems an interesting alternative to increase the food production, despite the high cost and controversial aspects related to those technologies. The DNA information, associated with production records, could be useful to increase the accuracy of the predicted breeding values, and consequently, the selection response. The refining of the physical and linkage maps in swine and the new types of markers such as AFLP, SNP and EST have enabled identifying important regions and major genes associated with economic traits in several chromosomes. If the new technologies were combined and correctly used in the swine industry, they might soon produce higher quality and cheaper products for the population.