DOI: https://doi.org/10.5513/JCEA01/26.4.4897
Review article
The role of the CAPN1 gene in the genetic improvement of livestock meat production
2025, 26 (4) p. 845-863
Marijana VRBANČIĆ IGRIĆ, Jelena RAMLJAK, Ante IVANKOVIĆ, Nikolina KELAVA UGARKOVIĆ, Tatjana JELEN, Zvonimir PRPIĆ, Miljenko KONJAČIĆ
Abstract
The development of molecular genetics has enabled direct analysis of the livestock genome, as well as the study of specific gene functions. Some studies have observed correlations between candidate genes and fattening and meat traits in livestock under specific production systems. However, in the Republic of Croatia, research on the association between specific genes (genotypes) and growth intensity or carcass quality in livestock is limited. This review summarizes previous findings on the association between the CAPN1 gene and growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality across various livestock species, aiming to consolidate current knowledge about the effects of specific genetic variants of the CAPN1 gene and highlight their practical applications in breeding programs. Previous studies have confirmed associations between the CAPN1 gene and growth intensity, carcass traits, and meat quality in cattle, pigs, and poultry; however, such studies are significantly less common in small ruminants. Genotyping of key CAPN1 SNPs enables the early selection of animals that are better suited for meat tenderness, marbling, and growth, thereby improving production efficiency. Future research should focus on validating these associations in local breeds and production systems.
Keywords
CAPN1, growth intensity, carcass and meat characteristics, livestock
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