Shown herein is a method of automated noninvasive determining the fertility of a bird's egg (14), comprising the following steps: conveying a plurality of bird eggs (14) sequentially or in parallel into an NMR apparatus (18), subjecting the bird eggs (14) to an NMR measurement, such as to generate a .sub.3-D NMR image of at least a part of each of said eggs (14), said .sub.3-D NMR image having a spatial resolution in at least one dimension of 1.0 mm or less, preferably of 0.50 mm or less, wherein said part of the egg (14) includes the germinal disc of the respective egg (14), determining a prediction of the fertility according to at least one of the following two procedures: (i) deriving at least one feature from each of said .sub.3-D NMR images, and employing said at least one feature in a feature-based classifier for determining a prediction of the fertility, and (ii) using a deep learning algorithm, and in particular a deep learning algorithm based on convolutional neural networks, generative adversarial networks, recurrent neural networks or long short-term memory networks.

Disclosed herein is a method of automated noninvasive determining the sex of an embryo of a bird's egg (14) as well as a corresponding apparatus. The method comprises the following steps: conveying a plurality of bird eggs (14) sequentially or in parallel into an NMR apparatus (18), subjecting the bird eggs (14) to an NMR measurement, to thereby determine, for each of said eggs (14), one or more NMR parameters associated with the egg (14) selected from the group consisting of a Ti relaxation time, a T2 relaxation time and a diffusion coefficient, forwarding said one or more NMR parameters, or parameters derived therefrom, to a classification module (38), said classification module (38) configured for determining, based on said one or more NMR parameters or parameters derived therefrom, a prediction of the sex of the embryo of the associated egg (14), and conveying said plurality of bird eggs (14) out of said NMR apparatus (18) and sorting the eggs (14) according to the sex prediction provided by said classification module (38).

Disclosed herein is a method of automated noninvasive determining the sex of an embryo of a bird's egg (14) as well as a corresponding apparatus. The method comprises the following steps: conveying a plurality of bird eggs (14) sequentially or in parallel into an NMR apparatus (18), subjecting the bird eggs (14) to an NMR measurement, to thereby determine, for each of said eggs (14), one or more NMR parameters associated with the egg (14) selected from the group consisting of a Ti relaxation time, a T2 relaxation time and a diffusion coefficient, forwarding said one or more NMR parameters, or parameters derived therefrom, to a classification module (38), said classification module (38) configured for determining, based on said one or more NMR parameters or parameters derived therefrom, a prediction of the sex of the embryo of the associated egg (14), and conveying said plurality of bird eggs (14) out of said NMR apparatus (18) and sorting the eggs (14) according to the sex prediction provided by said classification module (38).

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.

The present invention relates to a method for producing poultry in, particular chicks, at a hatchery, the method comprising; a) incubating a batch of eggs in incubating trays in an incubating device during a first incubating period of between about 7 to about 11 days, and then, b) for each egg of the batch of eggs, determining of gender of the chick embryo, in particular after determination if the egg contains a well-developed or more specifically a living embryo, c) based on the gender of a chick embryo, dividing the batch of eggs into at least a male batch portion and a female batch portion.

The present invention relates to a method for producing poultry in, particular chicks, at a hatchery, the method comprising; a) incubating a batch of eggs in incubating trays in an incubating device during a first incubating period of between about 7 to about 11 days, and then, b) for each egg of the batch of eggs, determining of gender of the chick embryo, in particular after determination if the egg contains a well-developed or more specifically a living embryo, c) based on the gender of a chick embryo, dividing the batch of eggs into at least a male batch portion and a female batch portion.

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.

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.