In-ovo sexing

No impact on hatchability

Fully automated, contactless sex classification within the eggs 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 partnership with Orbem, over 60 million eggs have been scanned and classified using Genus Focus in hatcheries across Europe. This happened within the first two years of its market introduction. The Genus Focus enables non-invasive in-ovo sexing through MRI and AI technologies, suitable for all egg colors and poultry breeds - without affecting hatchability or chick development. As Vencomatic Group we strive to bring solutions that enhance animal welfare and improve operational efficiency to our customers as we see this crucial steps towards a more future-proof poultry sector.

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Arjan Vervoort

Product Manager

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Solution detail in-ovo sexing (1)
Contactless

No need to perforate the egg

We determine the sex of the embryos contactless, fast and we keep the entire eggshell intact while doing so, all within just 1 second. This is achieved by combining MRI technology with deep learning (DL) algorithms, which accelerate MRI far beyond the speeds of medical MRI. DL analyzes the MRI images of eggs and classifies them based on anatomical differences. Since these differences are independent of the chicken breed, the technology can sex any breed of chicken.

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. The Genus Focus for in-ovo sexing is no exception on this. A study commissioned by the German government/BMEL concludes that pain perception up to and including day 12 of hatching is highly unlikely. We are confident that the Genus Focus positively contributes to early sex determination, making the industry more animal-friendly. The Genus Focus helps prevent male chick culling an does not harm embryonic development.

Genus Focus - dance along with us (Still)
Dance along with us in the rythm of innovation

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 Pluriton