This document specifies a real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) method for the qualitative detection of pigeon-specific DNA derived from food and feed. The method can be applied to distinguish rock pigeon (Columba livia) from other domestic poultry meats (e. g. goose, duck, quail, pheasant). It requires the extraction of an adequate amount of PCR amplifiable DNA from the relevant matrix.

The target sequence is a partial fragment of Columba livia breed Danish Tumbler unplaced genomic scaffold, Cliv_1.0 scaffold114 (i.e. GenBank accession number NW_004973337.1),^[1] which is present as a single copy per haploid genome. The provided PCR assay for this target has an absolute limit of detection of five copies per reaction, with ≥ 95 % confidence at this concentration (LOD_95 %).