In-ovo sexing

No impact on hatchability

Fully automated classification within the egg by day 12 of embryonic development. Accurately categorizing eggs as female, male, or clear.

Solution pillar hatchery - in-ovo sexing

Benefits for both animal and farmer

Determine the sex of the fertilized egg in a contactless way, taking animal welfare to the next level and preventing male chick culling.

For all eggs and poultry breeds

In cooperation with Orbem, we developed the Genus Focus which makes in-ovo sexing in a non-invasive way possible. It's suitable for all egg colors and poultry breeds, without any impact on hatchability.

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Arjan-Vervoort-small
Arjan Vervoort

Product Manager

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Solution detail in-ovo sexing (1)
Contactless

Don't touch the egg

Contactless sex classification within the egg by day 12 of embryonic development is now possible. The Genus Focus revolutionizes egg sexing by offering a non-invasive (contactless) way. That means, there are no human touch points in the whole process. Besides that, the eggs stay intact as it is scanned via MRI technology.

More about the Genus Focus

'We selected the Genus Focus for several reasons: it's non-invasive, which was very important for us, it works for white and brown eggs and it is scalable'

Customer quote Genus Focus (1)
Hans Groot Koerkamp

Managing Director hatchery

Solution detail in-ovo sexing (2)
Pain perception studies

Research is our driving force

Everything we do must be well researched and substantiated. This means that we only arrive at a final innovation through research, listening to the market and implementation. The Genus Focus for in-ovo sexing was no exception to this rule. Therefore, several studies have been done on pain perception of a chicken embryo. Below is more information on the study commissioned by the German government/BMEL, which concludes that pain perception up to and including hatching day 12 is highly unlikely.

2023 12 Vencomatic_Orbem _Genus Focus_Pluriton
Why leading hatcheries choose Genus Focus

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Genus Focus for in-ovo sexing including the answers.

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What is the footprint?

Our combined solution, including end-to-end automation equipment, can be installed within 16 x 10 m2 at 12,000 eggs/hour.

How many installations are there?

We have installations in France, Germany and in the Netherlands. 

Can it operate in any hatchery environment?

Yes, our solution is designed to operate in any hatchery environment.

How many operators do you need, and what is their required level of training?

Only one operator is required for up to 8 modules in parallel. They need to handle the automation equipment on a daily basis and receive a one-week training for using the entire system, including automation, Genus Focus MRI and IT equipment.

Do you have supply chain verification?

Our solution incorporates third-party supply chain verification through the KAT Prüfsystem. You can confidently trace every egg and flock back to its source, ensuring industry standards and regulatory compliance.

What are the delivery times?

We can deliver a full end-to-end solution within 8-10 months and are working with our suppliers to accelerate delivery times.

Can it handle any kind of setter tray?

Yes, our modular design and end-to-end solution can work with all setter trays in the market.

Stories from the field

The ones who can tell best how the climate systems work, are the farmers who work with it on a daily basis.

2024 Genus Focus installation

Ter Heerdt installs Genus Focus for in-ovo sexing in the Netherlands

Ter Heerdt and Verbeek, both leading international suppliers of day-old chicks and pullets for the laying hen sector, have decided to install the Genus Focus for in-ovo sexing at their hatchery in Babberich, the Netherlands.

'This installation is in line with our vision of an animal-friendly and future-oriented production of day-old chicks for the European market. Moreover, the combination of MRI and AI integrates well with our processes, and we anticipate further leveraging this technology in our hatchery'

Jos Eringfeld

Managing Director of Ter Heerdt

Genus Focus - Customer story Pluriton (1)

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Customer story: Pluriton

Pluriton, located in Bladel, is a hatchery where the Genus Focus is installed. They receive the eggs from breeding farms and place these on pre-breeding trays. Once they are transferred, they are disinfected and placed in the storage room. After determining the sex, the final stage of the hatching process arrives: the hatch.

'We need that predictability to deliver on our customers' demands. Within one second we know what is inside the egg, without any human interference'

Corné Verwijs

Operations Manager Hatcheries