IGF2 in livestock: boosting productivity and enhancing meat quality

• IGF2 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 2) is identified as a key factor in enhancing livestock productivity and meat quality through its dual role in promoting cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis, impacting muscle development and fat deposition. • Regulatory mutations in the IGF2 gene, particularly in pigs and cattle, significantly influence muscle growth, feed efficiency, and meat yield, offering potential for genetic improvement in livestock. • IGF2 plays diverse roles across species, influencing embryonic development, postnatal growth, and production traits in livestock, poultry, and dairy animals, with notable effects on meat, egg, and milk quality. • The expression of IGF2 is regulated by complex mechanisms including genetic polymorphisms, imprinting, and epigenetic modifications. • Practical applications of IGF2 in livestock face challenges related to animal health, welfare, and ethical concerns. • Advances in gene-editing technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 and Cas12iMax provide new opportunities to precisely modify the IGF2 gene. The surging global demand for animal protein necessitates sustainable improvements in livestock productivity and meat quality. Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) emerges as a pivotal target for genetic enhancement due to its d role in promoting mitogenesis and inhibiting apoptosis, which are critical for embryonic development and postnatal growth across vertebrates. In agriculture, IGF2 modulates muscle hypertrophy, fat deposition, and feed efficiency, with regulatory mutations linked to enhanced growth traits in pigs, cattle, sheep, and poultry. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of the IGF2 locus has shown promise for improving lean meat yield without compromising quality. However, challenges such as off-target effects, animal welfare concerns, and ethical debates over genome editing remain. This review synthesizes current research on IGF2’s biological mechanisms, genetic regulation (e.g., intron3 polymorphisms and epigenetic factors like ZBED6), and translational applications in livestock. By bridging fundamental biology and agricultural innovation, this work highlights IGF2’s potential to advance eco-efficient livestock systems while ensuring ethical standards are upheld. Future directions focus on refining genome-editing strategies and elucidating species-specific responses to IGF2 modulation.