Utility pigeons are domesticated pigeon

Domestic Pigeon

The Domestic Pigeon was derived from the Rock Pigeon. The Rock Pigeon is the world's oldest domesticated bird. Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets mention the domestication of pigeons more than 5,000 years ago, as do Egyptian hieroglyphics.Research suggests that domestication of pigeons was as early as...

s bred for a source of meat called squab

Squab (food)

In culinary terminology, squab is a young domestic pigeon or its meat. The meat is widely described as tasting like dark chicken. The term is probably of Scandinavian origin; the Swedish word skvabb means "loose, fat flesh". It formerly applied to all dove and pigeon species, such as the Wood...

. Squabs have been used as a food by many nations for centuries. They were selected

Selective breeding

Selective breeding is the process of breeding plants and animals for particular genetic traits. Typically, strains that are selectively bred are domesticated, and the breeding is sometimes done by a professional breeder. Bred animals are known as breeds, while bred plants are known as varieties,...

 as birds that would breed and grow quickly. Because they are bred for squab production, conformation to a show standard

Breed standard

A breed standard in animal fancy and animal husbandry is a set of guidelines which is used to ensure that the animals produced by a breeder or breeding facility conform to the specifics of the breed....

 is usually deemed unimportant.
Utility pigeons are one of three main breed groupings used by pigeon fanciers. The other two are Flying/Sporting

Flying/Sporting Pigeons

Flying/Sporting is the name of one of three main groupings of breeds of domesticated pigeons used by pigeon fanciers in the United States. The other two are Fancy and Utility....

 and Fancy.
The characteristics of utility pigeons of most importance to the businessperson 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. 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 king

King (pigeon)

The King is a breed of pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding primarily as a utility breed. Kings along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons are all descendants from the Rock Pigeon ....

s and utility kings and they are two different breeds of pigeon. The show breeds can still be used for squabbing purposes.

Show utility breeds

• American Giant Runt
  American Giant Runt
  The American Giant Runt is a breed of pigeon developed by selective breeding primarily as a utility and exhibition breed. American Giant Runts, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants from the Rock Pigeon ....
  
  
• Carneau
  Carneau
  The Carneau is a breed of pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding primarily as a utility breed. Carneau, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants from the Rock Pigeon ....
  
  
• French Mondain
  French Mondain
  The French Mondain is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding. French Mondains, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants from the Rock Pigeon ....
  
  
• King
  King (pigeon)
  The King is a breed of pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding primarily as a utility breed. Kings along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons are all descendants from the Rock Pigeon ....