The present disclosure concerns a system (100) for determining a gender of a fertile egg. The system utilizes measured data (20) indicative of radiation responses of an egg to illumination with at least two wavelengths. The radiation responses include transmissions of the illumination through at least a portion of the egg and/or reflections of the illumination from the egg. The system (100) is configured and operable to process the received measured data (20), to determine the variation over time of a relation between the intensities of the radiation responses at the at least two wavelengths, and to generate gender data based thereon.

The present invention relates to a method for promoting production of female embryos in fertilized eggs, comprising steps of: incubating said eggs; generating at least one type of energy with a predetermined energy profile; and simultaneously generating a pre-determined profile of a non-energy parameter by means of an energy generation device, applying both energy profile and the non-energy parameter to the eggs; and, collecting the eggs; wherein said method is non-toxic to the embryos, the application of both the energy profile and the non-energy parameter increases the fraction of females in the hatched chicks.

A poultry raising system includes: an imaging unit configured to capture an image of an inside of a poultry house; and a monitoring unit configured to determine a variation in density of chickens present in a particular region in the image captured by the imaging unit, and monitor the variation determined. The particular region is at least part of the image.

A poultry raising system includes: an imaging unit configured to capture an image of an inside of a poultry house; and a monitoring unit configured to determine a variation in density of chickens present in a particular region in the image captured by the imaging unit, and monitor the variation determined. The particular region is at least part of the image.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for delivering droplets of fluids onto an open tray containing poultry. According to the invention, the apparatus includes a stationary working surface, a single arm carrying a plurality of fluid dispensing nozzles, a drive unit comprising an electric motor for driving the translation of said single arm, said plurality of dispensing nozzles being connected to at least one fluid supply circuit comprising a fluid reservoir for supplying dispensing nozzles, the volume of fluid drawn from said reservoir being determined by a syringe, movement of the plunger of which is controlled by an electrical control element so that the plunger has a feed velocity V in the corresponding syringe. The apparatus also includes a controller for controlling the motor speed and the plunger feed velocity, said controller being configured to synchronize the acceleration/deceleration of the movable arm and the acceleration/deceleration of the plunger of said syringe or of at least one of said syringes.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for delivering droplets of fluids onto an open tray (15) containing poultry. According to the invention, the apparatus comprises a stationary working surface, a single arm (16) supporting a plurality of fluid dispensing nozzles, a drive unit for driving the translation of said arm (16), said plurality of dispensing nozzles being connected to at least one fluid supply circuit comprising a fluid reservoir and a pumping unit, a control unit configured to control the drive unit of the arm and to define at least one duration T of travel of the arm (16) above said working surface. The travel time T includes a period of gradual acceleration of said arm (16) outside an area of said working surface occupied by said tray and bringing said arm to a first end of said tray (15) along the first direction at a travel velocity V, a period of constant velocity V when the arm (16) moves above said tray (15), and a period of gradual deceleration of said arm (16) when the latter has passed a second end of the tray (15) along the first direction. The control unit is also configured to control each pumping unit and activate each pumping unit only when said arm is above said tray.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for delivering droplets of fluids onto an open tray (15) containing poultry. According to the invention, the apparatus comprises a stationary working surface, a single arm (16) supporting a plurality of fluid dispensing nozzles, a drive unit for driving the translation of said arm (16), said plurality of dispensing nozzles being connected to at least one fluid supply circuit comprising a fluid reservoir and a pumping unit, a control unit configured to control the drive unit of the arm and to define at least one duration T of travel of the arm (16) above said working surface. The travel time T includes a period of gradual acceleration of said arm (16) outside an area of said working surface occupied by said tray and bringing said arm to a first end of said tray (15) along the first direction at a travel velocity V, a period of constant velocity V when the arm (16) moves above said tray (15), and a period of gradual deceleration of said arm (16) when the latter has passed a second end of the tray (15) along the first direction. The control unit is also configured to control each pumping unit and activate each pumping unit only when said arm is above said tray.

A system for determining the gender and/or fertility status of avian eggs including a sampling apparatus and an electromagnetic radiation transmitter and detector. In certain embodiments, the transmitter operates in the terahertz range. The sampling apparatus can be coupled to an avian egg. The sampling apparatus includes a vacuum source, a gas collection device, and a membrane that can be positioned in the passageway coupling the vacuum source to the gas collection device. The membrane is capable of capturing volatile organic compounds. The sampling apparatus applies a vacuum from the vacuum source to the gas proximate to the avian egg and directs the gas captured from the vicinity of the egg toward the membrane. Subsequently, the membrane is positioned within the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the transmitter, generating a spectrum which can be analyzed to determine whether the egg is fertile or infertile, and if fertile, whether the egg is male or female. In an embodiment, the captured volatile organic compounds are transferred to a sample chamber where the captured gas is analyzed.

A system for determining the gender and/or fertility status of avian eggs including a sampling apparatus and an electromagnetic radiation transmitter and detector. In certain embodiments, the transmitter operates in the terahertz range. The sampling apparatus can be coupled to an avian egg. The sampling apparatus includes a vacuum source, a gas collection device, and a membrane that can be positioned in the passageway coupling the vacuum source to the gas collection device. The membrane is capable of capturing volatile organic compounds. The sampling apparatus applies a vacuum from the vacuum source to the gas proximate to the avian egg and directs the gas captured from the vicinity of the egg toward the membrane. Subsequently, the membrane is positioned within the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the transmitter, generating a spectrum which can be analyzed to determine whether the egg is fertile or infertile, and if fertile, whether the egg is male or female. In an embodiment, the captured volatile organic compounds are transferred to a sample chamber where the captured gas is analyzed.

The present invention provides a system and method for recognizing and segregating chicks by sex according to their feathers pattern. The system and method are based on the instinctive reaction of chicks to spread their wings in order to maintain stability in response to instantaneous disorientation, for example, due to a sudden change in spatial movement. The present invention further features a weighing system and a system for detecting external body defects of chicks for assessing chicks' health.