There is provided herein a system and a method for promoting production of female embryos in eggs. The method comprises the steps of: incubating a plurality of fertilized eggs to promote hatching of the fertilized eggs; and transmitting a soundwave having a frequency ranging from 100 Hz to 1200 Hz to the fertilized eggs, thereby promoting production of female embryos in the fertilized eggs.

A method is provided, wherein the eggs which are pre-incubated in setter trays are transferred to the poultry house in these setter trays. In the poultry house, a layer of insulating covering material is provided on the floor of the poultry house, in one or more strips. The covering material comprises, in particular, litter which is applied in a layer thickness of at least 2 cm. By a set of egg pickup members of a transfer machine, the pre-incubated eggs are removed in the poultry house from the setter trays, after which they are positioned on the covering material by the transfer machine. In this way, the eggs can be placed in the poultry house efficiently, with a minimal risk of damage to the eggs a high hatching rate being ensured.

A method is provided, wherein the eggs which are pre-incubated in setter trays are transferred to the poultry house in these setter trays. In the poultry house, a layer of insulating covering material is provided on the floor of the poultry house, in one or more strips. The covering material comprises, in particular, litter which is applied in a layer thickness of at least 2 cm. By a set of egg pickup members of a transfer machine, the pre-incubated eggs are removed in the poultry house from the setter trays, after which they are positioned on the covering material by the transfer machine. In this way, the eggs can be placed in the poultry house efficiently, with a minimal risk of damage to the eggs a high hatching rate being ensured.

Methods of utilizing light during incubation of avian eggs to influence characteristics of avian pre- and post-hatch. Specific amounts of energy are provided to incubated eggs through a light source, having particular wavelengths, to accelerate embryo development and promote myogenesis post hatch. Green, red, or blue wavelengths of light, or combinations thereof, are provided to eggs in a temperature controlled incubator to increase myoblast and satellite cell production in avian eggs. The light can be administered to avian eggs in a manner that entrains an embryo's circadian rhythm in the egg.

An egg grasp device is provided. Such a device includes a body and a plurality of elongated members extending from the body. The elongated members are interlaced to form a sheath capable of retaining an egg. The sheath has a distal end and a proximal end at which the elongated members are operably engaged with the body. The elongated members cooperate to define an opening at the distal end through which an egg is received when the elongated members engage and deflect about an egg such that the egg is seated within the sheath. Associated systems and methods are also provided.

Method and a device for the optical in ovo sex determination of fertilized and incubated birds' eggs. The method includes monitoring formation of at least one identifiable blood vessel, creating a hole in the shell of the egg, finding and irradiating the blood vessel with at least one laser beam source emitting an excitation wavelength, recording backscatter radiation of the irradiated blood vessel and evaluating backscatter radiation from recorded spectral intensity of fluorescence radiation in a spectral range redshifted to an excitation wavelength. Sex-specific properties of male and female blood are contained in the intensity and spectral profile of the recorded fluorescence radiation. where intensity levels for male blood has an evaluable value distinct from that of female blood. Further, determining the sex of the bird egg from difference values of the fluorescence intensity and displaying the sex determined for the embryo in the egg.

Method and a device for the optical in ovo sex determination of fertilized and incubated birds' eggs. The method includes monitoring formation of at least one identifiable blood vessel, creating a hole in the shell of the egg, finding and irradiating the blood vessel with at least one laser beam source emitting an excitation wavelength, recording backscatter radiation of the irradiated blood vessel and evaluating backscatter radiation from recorded spectral intensity of fluorescence radiation in a spectral range redshifted to an excitation wavelength. Sex-specific properties of male and female blood are contained in the intensity and spectral profile of the recorded fluorescence radiation. where intensity levels for male blood has an evaluable value distinct from that of female blood. Further, determining the sex of the bird egg from difference values of the fluorescence intensity and displaying the sex determined for the embryo in the egg.

The invention relates to a connected hatchery (1) comprising a plurality of devices (22, 23, 24, 25, 3, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 5, 62, 63, 64) for handling, processing or vaccinating eggs or chicks distributed along a production line, each of the devices being an automated device fitted with a programmable logic controller (231, 431, 451, 641) capable of producing at least one data stream (F23a, F23b, F23c, F23d, F43a, F43b, F43c, F43d, F43e, F43f, F45a, F45b, F45c, F45d, F45e, F64a, F64b, F64c, F64d) relating to the performance or operations of the said automated device, characterized in that it comprises a data centralizing and processing unit (7) arranged to collect the data streams produced by the programmable logic controllers of said automated devices in order to determine at least one performance indicator (I1, I2, I3) of the production line from one or more of said collected data streams and in order to transmit said performance indicator over a telecommunications network to a remote terminal.

The invention relates to a stable disinfectant composition and the use of said composition for spraying hatching eggs prior to in ovo vaccination, for disinfecting vaccination equipment including vaccination needles, and for flushing vaccination equipment post vaccination cycles.

The invention relates to a stable disinfectant composition and the use of said composition for spraying hatching eggs prior to in ovo vaccination, for disinfecting vaccination equipment including vaccination needles, and for flushing vaccination equipment post vaccination cycles.