In donkeys, red coat colour is associated with a recessive variant of the MC1R gene, known as the e allele. A donkey carrying two copies of this allele may have a red coat, with shades ranging from light red to reddish-brown. Animals carrying only one copy of the e allele do not show this red coat colour. The genetic test determines whether the animal carries the e allele and identifies its genotype for the red factor.
