Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for screening for the allele associated with a desired SCS phenotype, which comprises: obtaining a DNA sample from a bull to be tested for the desired SCS phenotype; and detecting the presence of an adenine at position 11 in a gene encoding a bovine beta2-adrenoreceptor. Also disclosed is a milling attribute PCR-RFLP kit containing a pair of primers which flank the 11th nucleotide position of the bovine beta2-adrenoreceptor gene, and a restriction enzyme specific for the CCCGGG site, which can be SmaI.

Abstract: The instant invention is drawn to the identification and use of information regarding one or more porcine leptin receptor (pLEPR) gene polymorphisms as a marker to identify animals to serve as breeding stock for enhanced pork production. One particular polymorphism of pLEPR gene results in either a methionine or a threonine amino acid residue at position 69 of the protein that the pLEPR genes encodes. The pLEPR gene is located on porcine chromosone 6 and have been shown to be associated with determination of daily feed intake, among other factors.