Imagine a high-tech scanner that can tell if a chick is male or female while it is still inside the egg. It uses light and AI to spot biological markers by day 6, long before the chick can feel any pain. This means farmers can remove male eggs early and use them for other things instead of killing the chicks after they hatch.
Hatcheries face massive ethical and legal pressure to stop killing billions of male chicks. Current methods are either non-existent or too expensive to implement at scale.
An AI-powered absorption spectroscopy measurement unit and classification algorithms that identify embryo sex non-invasively by day 6 of incubation.
If you are a commercial hatchery dealing with the ethical and legal burden of culling billions of male chicks — this project developed an automated in-ovo sexing system that identifies male embryos by day 6. This allows you to remove non-viable and male eggs early, ensuring compliance with bans in countries like Germany and France.
If you are a vaccine manufacturer dealing with the need for biological raw materials — this project developed a method to remove male eggs early in the incubation process. These eggs can then be repurposed for vaccine production, creating a new supply chain for bio-materials.
If you are a feed production plant dealing with the need for sustainable protein sources — this project developed a non-invasive way to sort eggs. Male embryos removed by day 6 can be repurposed into animal feed, supporting a circular economy in food production.
The project aims to provide a low-cost, automated solution that integrates directly into existing hatchery infrastructure to ensure minimal disruption and cost-effectiveness.
Yes, the project is currently creating large-scale prototypes for full automation and has already conducted industry trials at Gut Averfeld to demonstrate reliability.
Based on available project data, the technology uses a proprietary method for tracking sex-specific biological indicators via absorption spectroscopy.
The technology helps hatcheries comply with laws in countries like Germany and France where the culling of male chicks has already been banned.
The system is designed to be non-invasive and integrates directly into existing hatchery infrastructure, analyzing eggs while they are still in the incubator.
The project is led by a single German SME, Omegga GmbH, which maintains a 100% industry ratio. This lean structure suggests a highly focused commercial drive, with a specialized team of 9 people including engineers, data scientists, and veterinarians, reducing the friction often found in large academic consortia.
Contact OMEGGA GMBH in Germany for licensing or partnership inquiries.
Contact us to explore integration of in-ovo sexing into your poultry supply chain.
