First in-ovo eggs processed in Iowa and Texas
18 December 2024
3 minute learn
NestFresh introduced yesterday a milestone for the US egg trade: the primary set of in-ovo sexed chicks has been born and delivered to a NestFresh farm in Texas. This big leap in animal welfare is made potential by the adoption of Cheggy, progressive in-ovo sexing expertise.
The non-invasive system determines the intercourse of chicks in brown layer eggs earlier than hatching and can allow NestFresh to introduce the primary eggs sourced from in-ovo sexed hens to the US market by June 2025.
Final week, members from NestFresh, Licensed Humane, ASPCA, and Innovate Animal Agriculture got here collectively to witness the first-ever in-ovo sexed eggs processed by way of the Cheggy system at hatcheries in Wilton, Iowa, and Bryan, Texas, marking a monumental achievement for NestFresh and the complete US egg trade.
NestFresh is the first firm within the US to undertake Cheggy expertise.
“This can be a transformative second for the egg trade and animal welfare in the USA,” mentioned Jasen Urena, govt vice chairman at NestFresh.
“By being the primary US egg firm to undertake in-ovo sexing expertise, we’re tackling one of the crucial tough moral points in egg manufacturing and elevating the usual for animal welfare—beginning earlier than our hens are even born,” Urena added. “Our clients can now be much more assured that once they select NestFresh, they’re supporting a model that constantly seems to be for tactics to extend animal welfare, enhance environmental sustainability, and protect the small household farm lifestyle.”
Developed by German-based Agri-Superior Applied sciences (AAT), Cheggy provides accuracy, pace, and effectivity.
Able to sorting as much as 25,000 brown layer hatching eggs per hour, it claims to be the quickest system of its sort. It encompasses a compact design that may be built-in into current manufacturing strains.
Utilising hyperspectral measurement expertise, Cheggy analyses mild spectra to find out chick gender primarily based on feather color—with out penetrating the eggshell. This non-invasive course of safeguards embryo high quality and reduces the necessity to euthanise male chicks after hatching by as much as 97%. Cheggy’s strategy addresses one of many egg trade’s most urgent moral challenges and units a brand new benchmark for humane and fashionable egg manufacturing.
“Cheggy is an thrilling step ahead in NestFresh’s lengthy historical past of bettering animal welfare and sustainability,” mentioned Mike Sencer, govt vice chairman at NestFresh. “For over 30 years, our clients have counted on us to do the best factor, and this expertise is yet another means we’re conserving that promise. We’re proud to maintain elevating the bar and discovering new methods to take care of our hens and produce eggs extra responsibly.”
The introduction of Cheggy expertise to NestFresh operations follows its profitable implementation in Europe, the place it has turn into a market chief in brown layer in-ovo sexing. By bringing this answer to the US, NestFresh says it’s paving the way in which for extra accountable egg manufacturing practices throughout the trade.
