LDHA – Endurance in racing pigeons (LDHA: HaeIII A/B)
The LDHA gene encodes an enzyme involved in lactate utilisation, an important mechanism for muscular effort, endurance and recovery. In racing pigeons, the A allele of the LDHA gene has been reported to be more frequent in groups of pigeons with high homing performance. More recent data suggest that the AB profile may be of interest for long-distance races, with a favourable trend observed for this type of competition. This test can therefore provide complementary information to guide the selection of breeding birds intended for prolonged effort, while remaining to be considered alongside the pigeon’s lineage, training and actual race results.



