Could artificial intelligence end the complexities of current vaccination methods?

20 November 2025

3 minute read

By: TARGAN

US broiler production has increased by a considerable 17.3% in the last decade, with a growing global population, favorable prices and health endorsements contributing to a growth in consumer demand for poultry. As the industry races to meet global demand, hatcheries face mounting pressure to uphold successful immunization standards, with chick vaccination as a critical cornerstone of animal health and food security. However, traditional vaccination methods remain labor-intensive and prone to inconsistency. This not only threatens flock immunity but also exposes poultry producers to costly risks and regulatory scrutiny. In response, technologies powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), defined by precision, automation and scalability, are emerging as a solution to reshape the future of broiler health.

The challenges of traditional vaccination methods

Current vaccination methods used in hatcheries around the world encounter several issues. Whilst manual vaccination helps to ensure all birds receive uniform levels of immunization, the labor costs and logistical complexities make this method increasingly impractical, particularly in large-scale operations. Manual vaccination is time-consuming and, with limited vaccination windows for poultry producers, delays can compromise chick immunity and productivity. In-ovo application utilizes the individual bird approach - however, not all vaccines are suitable for in-ovo application, with some live vaccines lethal to embryos. With these factors in mind, day of hatch mass vaccination methods are typically favored by high-volume hatcheries.

Day of hatch mass vaccination generally involves the administration of a spray or gel over the top of birds. An inherent limitation of this method is that it relies on preening and ingestion for the dose to be effective, which leads to dosage inconsistencies, with some chicks receiving too much vaccine, others too little, and some nothing at all. This nonuniform administration leaves some birds naive and vulnerable to infection. 

Both individual and mass vaccination methods also present welfare challenges. The manual handling of birds can cause stress, as can the use of excessive spray which has a chilling effect on the birds. This leads to a decrease in the birds’ body temperature, which can generate further health problems. These issues illustrate the need for more effective alternatives to protect the health of chicks across the value chain. A potential solution is emerging through the continued development of AI, particularly in its capacity to enhance precision. 

Animal AgTech company, TARGAN, the company behind the automated feather sex identification system WingScan™, is in the testing stages of its latest development, a vaccine delivery system. Striving to transform the process of hatchery vaccination, TARGAN seeks to move away from the inefficiencies of mass vaccination, towards a standardized process that prioritizes uniform immunization across the flock. 

The technology and industry advantages

By leveraging automated high-speed imaging, TARGAN aims to identify each chick via their eye position to distribute a precise ocular dose in milliseconds. Each chick is to receive a uniform dose prior to getting to the farm, providing early protection and avoiding the risk for naive birds contracting diseases due to natural field challenges. Vaccine uniformity is essential in stabilizing disease resistance and mortality levels, as well as the growth rate of the entire flock. When all birds are properly vaccinated it is a proactive approach to preventing disease, eliminating the need for retroactive treatments which are often more expensive. TARGAN’s delivery volumes are so small and precise that they eliminate the concern of chick chilling.

The new system has the capability to deliver up to five vaccines in a single dispense at day of hatch. This streamlined process is intended to transform each stage of the value chain, with reduced waste in the hatchery, lower chick mortality on the farm, and greater returns at the processing plant.

The future of chick vaccination

TARGAN is also focused on refining vaccine compatibility to ensure that the system can accommodate a variety of commonly used vaccines, including those for infectious bronchitis, standard in US hatcheries, and other regional challenges. TARGAN trials so far have provided vaccination speeds of up to 30,000 chicks per hour, and the company is aiming to increase the rate to 80,000 with its commercial system. Launching in 2026, the Vaccine Delivery System (VDS) is set to revolutionize current approaches to chick immunization.