The move towards solving the male layer chicks problem is gaining pace in Europe.
Hatcheries in both Germany and Holland have installed the SELEGGT system, described in an earlier Hotwire.
Lohman put the system into their large hatchery at Ankum.
It will allow Lohman to offer sexed pullets of both brown and white strains, initially 3 million per annum.
Respeggt eggs from these pullets, labelled “Free of Chick Culling”, will be available in more than 8,000 supermarket stores in Germany, the Netherlands, France and Switzerland, by the end of 2022.
In addition, the SELEGGT machine installed, and operating, in the Verbeek hatchery in Holland since 2021, has been joined by a second machine.
This will allow the hatching of Novagen pullets, which can go on to lay eggs labelled “Free of Chick Culling”.
The male embryos detected are removed from the setters and destroyed before reaching the age of pain perception.
The Australian CSIRO researchers have also developed a technique of labelling male embryos with a biomarker which enables detection of potential male embryos before incubation.
