The association between acyl-CoA synthetase (ACSL4) polymorphism and intramuscular fat content in (Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc pigs

The aim of the study was to check whether different genotypes at acyl-CoA synthetase (ACSL4 locus, SNP G2645A) are associated with pork quality. 132 (Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc fatteners were genotyped by originally developed PCR-RFLP method. Upon the slaughter, the samples of longissimus lumborum muscle were taken from each carcass to determine the following parameters: content of water, protein and fat, pH (45 min, 24, 48, 96, and 144 h post mortem), electrical conductivity, drip loss, meat lightness, glycolytic potential, glycogen and lactate contents in meat. Among several associations observed, the highly significant (p < 0.01) was found for intramuscular fat (IMF) content. Pigs with genotype GG revealed the highest content of IMF — 2.47%.