›› 2017, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (8): 2386-2391.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2017.08.024

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Research Progress on Multi-vertebral Trait in Livestock

HUANG Jie-ping1,2,3, ZHANG Ming-ming1,2,3, MA Yun2,3, HAO Rui-jie2,3, LEI Chu-zhao1   

  1. 1. Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China;
    2. College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China;
    3. Institute for Conservation and Utilization of Agro-bioresources in Dabie Mountains, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
  • Received:2017-02-08 Online:2017-08-20 Published:2017-08-18

Abstract:

Multi-vertebra trait means increase of the vertebral number in animal, which is positive for livestock. Increased thoracic-lumbar vertebral number will result in improvement of carcass traits, especially carcass length, as well as economic value. Meanwhile, relatively high heritability of multi-vertebra trait is evaluated, providing genetic basis for selecting and breeding of multi-vertebra livestock. As such, individuals with multi-vertebra trait will increase production of domestic animals ultimately. Thus, study on multi-vertebra trait provides theoretical basis for breeding of meat livestock with multi-vertebra. Hitherto, multi-vertebra trait has been found in swine, sheep and bovine. Much information has been revealed in studies on multi-vertebra trait in swine; While that is limited in sheep and bovine. This review summarized variations of vertebral number, effects of multi-vertebra trait on the production traits, and genes or mutations responsible for multi-vertebra trait of livestock animal. Further, the research gap and future direction were analyzed as well.

Key words: livestock; multi-vertebra; production traits; regulatory genes

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