Prospective study relating genotype profiles with race performance in racing pigeons

Abstract

This is a prospective study to investigate the impact of genotype profiles on race performance in racing pigeons. Genotypes studied included lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), dopamine receptor (DRD), myostatin (MSTN), and feather keratin (F-KER), as well as demographic factors such as gender, color, and the mtDNA. This study shows differences within genotypes DRD456 (P = 0.027) and F-KER (P = 0.018). For DRD456, race coefficients were lower (= better performance) for genotype CT. For F-KER, race coefficients were lower for GG, overall, while within the F-KER TT genotype race performance was best at longer distances. After including Queen L mtDNA in the model, both the effects of F-KER and DRD456 remained significant. The effect of Queen L mtDNA alone was significant (P = 0.004) and mainly driven by the effect in short distance races. In addition, birds with the checker color check had a lower race coefficient than birds with the color blue bar (P = 0.0012). Also, this effect was independently significant and remained significant in the multivariate analysis. No differences in race coefficients were seen between genotypes for LDHA and MSTN nor for the demographic factor of gender. While individual factors were related to differences in race performance, and although one could be tempted to favor a bird with DRD4 CCCT–F-KER TT–LDHA AB–checker color for long distance races, further and larger prospective studies including birds unrelated to our family of birds will be needed to confirm our findings and to determine a superior profile including multiple genetic factors.

Consistent Race Performance in Racing Pigeons: A Case Report Confirming a Favorable Genetic Profile

“…While there are limitations with a retrospective analysis of genotype relating to race performance, in our report such analysis was used to test the hypothesis generated from our large prospective study [7]. It is very encouraging to see that our results indicate that pigeons in our family of birds with the genotype DRD4 CCCT and F-KER TT seem to be very likely consistent Top10% race performers over all distances including the final longest distance of around 325-400 miles.…”

“…In the quest to identify genotypes relating to race performance in racing pigeons multiple studies reported about the effect of variability in a single gene [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. Most frequently reported genes are LDHA, DRD4, F-KER, and more recently CRY1.…”

“…Variability in these genes could potentially impact race performance. The first genotype profile based on a multivariate analysis involving genotype analyses of LDHA, DRD4, F-KER, and MSTN was reported by Kolvenbag et al [7].…”

Genome‐wide association study of growth traits and validation of key mutations (MSTN c.C861T) associated with the muscle mass of meat pigeons

“…Previous studies have shown that mRNA expression of MSTN is significantly higher in breast muscle than in other tissues and increases with at 1-28 days (Liu et al, The MSTN gene exon 3 c.C861T (p.T287T) synonymous mutation has been observed in the meat, carrier and ornamental pigeon populations (Dybus et al, 2013). The T allele frequency is higher in the meat pigeon population, and statistical correlation between the mutation and competition ability cannot be obtained in the carrier pigeon population owing to the low gene frequency of mutant TT (Dybus et al, 2018;Kolvenbag et al, 2022). However, there is a lack of correlation validation between MSTN p.T287T and MM phenotype data.…”

Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Serine Protein Kinase (CASK) Gene Polymorphisms in Pigeons

“…In pigeon research, a candidate gene may be proposed, and, using homing and non-homing pigeons ( Columba livia domestica ) and racing records, potential associations between racing performance and DNA polymorphisms can be uncovered. In the group of potential genetic markers of pigeons’ racing performance are the LDHA gene [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ], DRD4 [ 34 , 35 ], FCBP ( F-KER ) [ 35 , 36 , 37 ], CRY1 [ 38 ] and MSTN [ 39 ]. In whole genome analyses of 95 pigeons of various breeds, polymorphisms in the GSR and LRP8 genes have been identified as a potential markers of racing performance in homing pigeons [ 40 , 41 ].…”