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Frequency of the halothane gene in british landrace and large white pigs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

O. I. Southwood
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Edinburgh Research Station†, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JQ
S. P. Simpson
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Edinburgh Research Station†, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JQ
M. K. Curran
Affiliation:
Wye College, University of London, Nr Ashford, Kent TN25 5AH
A. J. Webb
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Edinburgh Research Station†, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JQ
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Abstract

The gene frequency of the halothane gene was estimated in nine British Landrace and Large White nucleus herds. Two hundred and sixty British Landrace and 186 Large White pigs purchased from these herd, to be used as foundation stock for a joint experiment on lean growth at the Physiology and Genetics Research Station, Edinburgh at Wye College, were test mated to homozygous halothane reactors (nn). One thousand six hundred and forty-six British Landrace and 1764 Large White offspring were given a 4-min halothane test at average ages of 76 and 50 days respectively. Maximum-likelihood estimates of the halothane gene frequency were 0·33 (s.e. 0·03) in British Landrace and 0·11 (s.e. 0·02) in Large White. Estimated proportions of reactors amongst heterozygotes (Nn) and halothane homozygotes (nn) were 0·00 and 0·70 in Large White, and 0·02 and 0·85 in British Landrace. There was significant heterogeneity between the herds for both breeds (P < 0·05). The proportion of halothane reactors in British Landrace herds has increased significantly (P < 0·05) from 0·13 in 1979 to 0·18 in 1982, and the proportion of Large White reactors has increased from zero to 0·01 in the same time period.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1988

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References

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