IPPE: First in-ovo sexing machine from AAT installed in US-based NestFresh
The technology eliminates male chick culling while maintaining hatchery efficiency — a potential game-changer for US layer operations
14 May 2025
2 minute read
By: Jorg Hurlin, the Managing Director at Agri Advanced Technologies, also known as AAT, and Mike Senser, who is the Senior Vice President at NestFresh, were recently interviewed by Global Ag Media's Sarah Mikesell at the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States.
What's new at AAT?
Last December we had a historical day here in the US. We brought the first in-ovo sexing machine to a US hatchery. Together with our partner Nest Fresh, we are going to bring the first chicks into the field in June next year. These will be the first eggs where no males have been killed. This is a great innovation, and this recent technology will be a great milestone here in the United States.
What is the innovative technology behind this?
We use technology where we can scan the gender to determine if it's a male or female in the incubation process, utilizing a high throughput process . A big benefit is that this technology is non-invasive and very efficient.
Is it being used in other parts of the world as well?
We have been using it in Europe since 2019. We have it at seven separate locations and now we feel confident enough to move over to the US. It is important we hit the targeted flock numbers and requested size, so we have a throughput of 25,000 eggs per hour. That hits the needs of Nest Fresh to deliver enough birds for the farmhouses.
Can you elaborate more on the efficiency aspect?
It's a non-invasive technology that does not touch the embryo. We have no hatch losses in this process and that makes it very efficient. There are no chemicals used. It's an exceptionally clean and sustainable process. It's a new evolution in the hatchery automation world.
We're in the second third of incubation as all the other ones which are in the market. It's a great technology that is quite simple. It is the size of a normal USB carriage and it fits in with the hatcheries we have because space is always an issue.
What role does NestFresh play in this technology?
NestFresh takes the chicks. They have already taken 60,000 of them and are growing them in their barns. We must be patient. Under the NestFresh label, this will ultimately be the best animal welfare egg out there because we're not killing all the males.
This technology solves a problem for Nest Fresh and other producers?
It really solves the problem for the hatcheries because they must incubate all these eggs and half of them are males, so half of them don't get used. From an animal welfare standard, this is just the ultimate solution. Europe's been the leader. Looking at all the technologies, Cheggy was the one that came through.
How are the eggs labeled?
The eggs can be stamped if we need to, but the packaging is going to be different. It'll be clear to the public that these are in-ovo sexed eggs. The question will be to get the message out to the public about the culling of the males. The animal rights groups are keen on this technology. They understand it. In the world, billions of male chickens are being slaughtered every year. This is just the ultimate to me and my dream to have this done so they've helped me do that.
