Case study: Success through automated sexing at Trouw Nutrition’s Québec hatchery

4 February 2026

1 minute read

By: TARGAN

Automated chick sexing is rapidly emerging as a defining capability in broiler production worldwide, expediting the time from hatch to farm, enabling sex-separate rearing and feed programs, improving flock uniformity, and maximizing processing yields. Technology has evolved a once manual and labor-intensive task into a strong competitive advantage, delivering unmatched speed, accuracy, and consistency.

For Trouw Nutrition, a global company focused on developing more sustainable ways of raising healthy animals, automated feather sexing presented an opportunity at its Ramsay Hatchery in Saint-Félix-de-Valois, Québec. 

Driving safer, more efficient operations

Hatching and delivering around 34 million chicks per year, the hatchery naturally came across operational and workforce challenges. On-time delivery hovered at a modest 90%, while long-term manual sexers faced an increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

Since adopting WingScan™ (TARGAN), the hatchery has set a new benchmark with 99% on-time deliveries. Health and safety have also improved significantly due to the reduction of repetitive movements and the introduction of enhanced workstations, with employees now rotating across different roles. Overall, the shift to automated chick sexing has strengthened consistency, reliability and predictability across Trouw Nutrition’s Ramsay Hatchery. 

Automation for welfare gains 

Following a seamless set-up, supported by TARGAN’s ongoing communication and training, WingScan has reduced the hatchery’s processing time by 50%. This has delivered meaningful welfare benefits as chicks experience less invasive handling, adapt to their environment sooner, and access feed and water more quickly at the farm. 

Trouw Nutrition’s rollout of WingScan in Québec has aligned with rising regional demand for feather sexing, as processing plants increasingly prioritize accurate weight management and tighter flock uniformity. As the industry continues to evolve, precise early identification is becoming central to helping producers meet performance targets, comply with processing requirements, and maintain their competitiveness.

By adopting automation that delivers measurable welfare and performance gains, Trouw Nutrition has positioned itself as an adaptable leader in modern hatchery practice. The results at its Ramsay Hatchery speak for themselves – demonstrating how AI-powered automated sexing can strengthen performance, protect workers, and support greater welfare for every chick.