The purpose of early sex detection in the egg is to prevent male laying chicks from hatching in the first place. A technically promising solution approach is now on the verge of making this vision a reality.
It’s hard to believe, but around 110 million chicks hatch in Austria. Every year! About a fifth is bred exclusively for laying purposes. This breed has trouble gaining weight, but works extremely hard when it comes to egg production.
Male chick as a waste product
As we know, only chickens can lay eggs, so roosters are useless. That is why approximately nine million male chicks are gassed every year. Organic farms are a commendable exception. Here male animals are not killed on the day of their birth, but raised and slaughtered as so-called “brother cocks”. A great contribution from all involved, but this effort is extremely expensive because laying breeds require twice as long and twice as much feed as beef breeds.
AI in the chicken coop
But this dilemma will soon be history! Thanks to the latest technologies and artificial intelligence – which does not stop at the chicken coop – it can be determined in just one second whether the egg will grow into a chicken or a rooster. This means that the cruel killing of day-old chicks will soon come to an end.
Supermarket boss for that
Retailers are also responding very positively to this development! REWE boss Marcel Haraszti, who has always been a pioneer in the organic sector with his own brands: “As far as we are concerned, the new and apparently practical process is promising because it prevents animal suffering in advance!” says the sympathetic manager and animal lover.
Already on the eleventh day of incubation, this procedure can determine the gender by 99 percent and thus the egg can be selected without any living being suffering. Scientific research shows that the embryo can only feel pain from the 13th day onwards.
“If you don’t know anything, you have to eat everything!”
In the association’s current podcast ‘Land Creates Life’, agricultural expert Hannes Royer speaks with the developer of this innovative invention about the possible benefits of early gender detection in the egg. Using such technology also costs a lot of money.
Waste of resources
Eggs would become slightly more expensive and consumers would have to be willing to bear these additional costs. In addition to eliminating the need to kill male chicks, the environment would also benefit. Raising roosters diverts many raw materials into food that consumers do not actually want.
Sustainability is central
These resources, including land for growing feed, stable space and energy, could be saved by not hatching the rooster chicks in the first place. This is an important argument when it comes to sustainable food production.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
