New technology

How AI will prevent the killing of chicks in the future

Simply cute - but the male chicks of laying breeds are gassed on the day they hatch. An end to this killing is in sight.

(Bild: kozorog - stock.adobe.com)

The aim of early sex detection in eggs is to prevent male chicks from being hatched in the first place. A technically promising solution 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! Around a fifth are bred exclusively for laying purposes. This breed is gaining a lot of weight, but is extremely industrious when it comes to producing eggs.

Male chicks as a waste product
As we know, only hens can lay eggs - so the roosters are useless. This is why around nine million male chicks are gassed every year. Organic farms are a laudable exception. Here, male animals are not killed on the day they are born, but are reared and slaughtered as so-called "brother roosters". This is a great contribution by all involved, but it is extremely costly, as laying breeds need twice as long and twice as much feed as meat breeds. 

AI in the henhouse
But this dilemma will soon be history! Thanks to the latest technologies and artificial intelligence - which doesn't even stop at the henhouse - it takes just one second to determine whether a hen or a rooster is growing in the egg. This will soon put an end to the cruel killing of day-old chicks.

Figures & data:

• Total number of chicks hatched: around 110 million.
• Of which for laying purposes: around 21 million
• Of which male chicks: around 10.5 million
• Egg production in Austria: around 2.2 billion eggs
• Per capita consumption: 248 eggs/year (incl. eggs in processed products)

Supermarket boss in favor
Retailers are also reacting very positively to this development! REWE boss Marcel Haraszti, who is always a pioneer in the organic sector with the Group's own brands: "The new and apparently practicable procedure is promising from our point of view, as it prevents animal suffering in advance!" says the likeable manager and animal lover.

REWE boss Marcel Haraszti is delighted with the new approach, which could mean greater animal welfare.

(Bild: Tomschi Peter)

This method can already determine the sex 99 percent of the time on the 11th day of incubation, and thus the egg can be sorted out without any living creature suffering. This is because a scientific study has shown that the embryo can only feel pain from day 13.

Even if it was the best solution for this food production a few years ago, further development is also possible here. Technology has developed extremely quickly and allows us to rethink the issue of animal welfare.

Hannes Royer, Vereinsgründer „Land schafft Leben“

Bild: Land Schafft Leben

"If you know nothing, you have to eat everything!"
In the latest podcast from the "Land schafft Leben" association, agricultural expert Hannes Royer talks to the developer of this innovative invention about the potential benefits of early sex detection in eggs. Because the use of such technology also costs a lot of money.

"Krone" animal corner boss Maggie Entenfellner (right) has also been a guest on the award-winning podcast. In the latest episode, Hannes Royer (left) invites Rüdiger Schmidt into the studio to talk to him about the possibilities of AI-based technology.

(Bild: Land schafft Leben)

Waste of resources
Eggs would become a little more expensive and consumers would have to be prepared to bear these additional costs. Apart from the fact that male chicks would no longer have to be killed, the environment would also benefit. With the rearing of brother roosters, many resources flow into a foodstuff that consumers do not actually want.

Focus on sustainability
These resources, including arable land for feed, barn space and energy, could be saved by not allowing the rooster chicks to hatch in the first place. In terms of sustainable food production, this is an important argument.