In ovo-gender identification in laying hen hybrids: Effects on hatching and production performance

Weißmann, Anne; Förster, Anke; Gottschalk, J.; Reitemeier, Susanne; Krautwald‐Junghanns, Maria‐Elisabeth; Preisinger, R.; Einspanier, A.

doi:10.1399/eps.2014.25

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…The technique requires penetrating the egg, which could be a risk for survival due to infection risks. This in-ovo technique was shown to reduce hatching rate and rearing performance of layer females, which were sampled at day 9 of incubation as opposed to an unsampled control group, but no effect on laying performance was noted (17).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In-ovo sex identification is the determination of the sex of the embryo while in the egg (16,17). With in-ovo sex identification, male embryos can be detected and then excluded from further development prior to or during incubation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…nl/solutions/in-ovo-egg-sexing). A similar method is described by Weismann et al (16,17), where in-ovo sexing takes place by analyzing estrone sulfate in the allantoic fluid in the incubated eggs (20). Male embryos have lower levels of estrone sulfate compared to females, and sexing accuracy above 98% could be attained with this technique (16).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The Need for an Alternative to Culling Day-Old Male Layer Chicks: A Survey on Awareness, Alternatives, and the Willingness to Pay for Alternatives in a Selected Population of Dutch Citizens

2021

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A concerning by-product of producing laying hen chicks are the hatched male layer chicks. As a consequence of their inability to lay eggs, these male chicks are culled as day-old chicks in the hatchery. To find an alternative for this ethical dilemma (generally), three alternatives are under study, namely, in ovo sex determination, using dual-purpose breeds, and the rearing of layer cockerels. In order to assess the awareness of this practice and preference for one of the alternatives, we conducted an online survey of the Dutch public. Most of the 259 respondents completing the survey were highly educated woman (HEW, n = 143) versus others (REST, n = 86). The questionnaire was divided into six topics: (1) general knowledge of the poultry industry, (2) awareness of culling male layer chicks (CMC), and (3) its acceptability, (4) alternatives to CMC, (5) willingness to pay (WTP) for eggs without CMC, and (6) WTP for cockerel meat. Awareness about CMC was 52%, and its acceptability was rejected by 78% (HEW) and 67% (REST). The level of acceptability increased when more salient facts were given, and almost all respondents agreed that an alternative was needed (90% HEW, 84% REST). For both groups of respondents, more than 50% preferred in ovo sex determination over keeping the current practice or using dual-purpose breeds or male layers. Furthermore, the majority of respondents were willing to pay more than double the price for eggs without CMC being involved. Roughly 40% would not buy processed cockerel meat burgers, most likely due to their vegan or vegetarian diet. Of the remaining respondents, half were willing to pay the current price or 1 euro more for processed cockerel meat burgers. The most important factors when buying poultry meat or eggs without CMC were food safety, animal friendliness (welfare), and the environment; price was the least important factor. Despite the skewed respondents' background, the results of our survey show that consumers are willing to pay more for poultry products that do not require culling day-old male chicks.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The Need for an Alternative to Culling Day-Old Male Layer Chicks: A Survey on Awareness, Alternatives, and the Willingness to Pay for Alternatives in a Selected Population of Dutch Citizens

2021

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“…Techniques based on in ovo determination of feather color [19][20][21][22] are solely applicable in the late incubation phase and only for brown layers. The endocrinological method is already used commercially, but sex determination cannot be made before the 9 th day of incubation [15,16]. Molecular optical spectroscopic methods [11][12][13][14] have the advantage of being applicable in a very early state of incubation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Highly sensitive and quick in ovo sexing of domestic chicken eggs by two-wavelength fluorescence spectroscopy

et al. 2022

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The in ovo sexing of chicken eggs is a current task and a prerequisite to overcome the mass killing of male day-old chicks from laying lines. Although various methods have been developed and tested in recent years, practicable methods for sex determination are still missing which can be applicated in poultry hatcheries before the chicken embryo is capable of nociception and pain sensation. Optical spectroscopic methods enable an early determination of the sex. In this study, a novel method based on two-wavelength in ovo fluorescence excitation is described. More than 1600 eggs were examined. In ovo fluorescence was sequentially excited at 532 nm and 785 nm. The fluorescence intensities of the spectral regions behave inversely with respect to sex. It is shown that the observed sex-related differences in the fluorescence intensities are based on the embryonic hemoglobin synthesis. The accuracy of sex determination is 96% for both sexes. The hatching rate is not reduced compared to an equivalent reference group. Graphical Abstract

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“…Specialized selective breeding to produce dual purpose poultry (i.e., for eggs and meat); endocrinological and mass spectroscopic analyses; hyperspectral analysis of feather color and; the use of MRI-AI technology provide other examples of novel innovations to culling processes (Weissmann et al, 2014;Göhler et al, 2017;Gangnat et al, 2018;Mueller et al, 2018Mueller et al, , 2020Reithmayer and Mußhoff, 2019;Agri-Advanced Technologies, 2021;IN OVO, 2021;Orbem GmbH, 2022). The literature suggests these alternative approaches and technologies to chick culling have had mixed success and incur significant compromises including reduced efficiency and sustainability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethical Eggs: Can Synthetic Biology Disrupt the Global Egg Production Industry?

Mankad

Hobman

Carter

et al. 2022

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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Commercial egg production relies on the industry-accepted practice of culling day-old male chicks, which are a live by-product of the egg production industry. Researchers are exploring the use of a transgenic marker gene to allow early identification of male embryos in ovo at the point of lay, rather than upon hatching. Here we examine social acceptability of this biotechnology-enabled solution to sex selection, which addresses the key ethical issue of culling and improved sustainability of food systems. A national online survey (N = 1148) measured psychological factors influencing public support for the development of the technology and willingness to purchase eggs derived from the novel process. Most participants expressed at least a moderate intention to support the development of gene marking technology, with 1 in 5 people expressing strong support. Participants expressed moderate to high agreement that gene marking of chickens would: (a) help reduce or eliminate the practice of culling male chicks in the egg-laying industry (response efficacy), and; (b) that this new synbio approach to sex selection may be better than current methods of identifying and removing male chicks during egg production (relative advantage). Of those participants who consumed eggs, almost 60% reported they would be moderately to strongly willing to purchase eggs derived from the gene marking process. A partially-mediated path model comprising both intention to support and willingness to buy eggs (R2 = 0.78) showed that key factors involved in decision-making, in addition to response efficacy and relative advantage, were evaluative attitudes toward the technology (e.g., was the technology bad/good, risky/safe, unethical/ethical) and emotional reactions. These results suggest that consumers may be primarily basing their decisions and behavioral choices on how valuable they perceive the novel gene marking solution, reflecting on how it compares favorably to current culling practices, yielding a range of benefits such as higher animal welfare, improved sustainability, and reduced waste.

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In ovo-gender identification in laying hen hybrids: Effects on hatching and production performance

Cited by 8 publications

References 0 publications

The Need for an Alternative to Culling Day-Old Male Layer Chicks: A Survey on Awareness, Alternatives, and the Willingness to Pay for Alternatives in a Selected Population of Dutch Citizens

The Need for an Alternative to Culling Day-Old Male Layer Chicks: A Survey on Awareness, Alternatives, and the Willingness to Pay for Alternatives in a Selected Population of Dutch Citizens

Highly sensitive and quick in ovo sexing of domestic chicken eggs by two-wavelength fluorescence spectroscopy

Ethical Eggs: Can Synthetic Biology Disrupt the Global Egg Production Industry?

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