Utility pigeon

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A young utility squab.
A young utility squab.

Utility pigeons are domesticated pigeons bred for a source of meat called squab. Squabs have been used as a food by many nations for centuries.[1] They were selected as birds that would breed and grow quickly.[2] Because they are bred for squab production, conformation to a show standard is usually deemed unimportant. Utility pigeons are one of three main breed groupings used by pigeon fanciers. The other two are Flying/Sporting and Fancy. The characteristics of utility pigeons of most importance to the business man who is keeping them are rapid growth and high fecundity.

There are certain breeds of pigeons which at one time were raised for utility purposes but which are now raised for show purposes[3]. Fanciers usually distinguish between the two sub-breeds by appending the word "show" or "utility" to the name of the breed. For example, there are show kings and utility kings and they are two different breeds of pigeon. The show breeds can still be used for squabbing purposes.

[edit] Show utility breeds

[edit] References

  1. ^ Levi, Wendell (1977). The Pigeon. Sumter, S.C.: Levi Publishing Co, Inc. ISBN 0853900132. 
  2. ^ Seymour, Rev. Colin (Ed)(2006) Australian Fancy Pigeons National Book of Standards.
  3. ^ Hiatt, Shannon; Jon Esposito, DVM (2000). The Pigeon Guide. Port Perry, Ontario: Silvio Mattacchione and Company, 32. ISBN 1895270189. 

[edit] See also

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