Methods and systems of promoting fertilization of eggs of an avian. While inseminating a plurality of avian eggs a spectrum substantially concentrated within a narrow range of wavelength irradiates the plurality of inseminated avian eggs to increase the motility of the sperm to increase the probability of conception of avian from the inseminated eggs.

The present invention generally relates to a strain of Lactobacillus probiotic bacteria and a poultry vaccine for use in the in ovo vaccination of poultry, wherein said strain and said vaccine are administered to an embryonated poultry egg. Compositions suitable for use in an in ovo vaccination protocol for poultry comprising a strain of Lactobacillus probiotic bacteria and a vaccine diluent which is suitable for the poultry vaccine to be used in said vaccination protocol are also provided, as are suitable kits for use in the invention.

The invention relates to a candling apparatus for the rapid discrimination, removal and relocation of non-live avian eggs. The invention further relates to methods of use of the candling apparatus for the candling, removal and relocation of avian eggs.

An egg processing apparatus is provided. Such an apparatus includes a plurality of egg processing devices configured to interact with a plurality of eggs carried by an egg carrier. An egg support assembly is positioned beneath the egg processing devices such that an egg carrier is capable of being moved between the egg processing devices and the egg support assembly. The egg support assembly includes a plurality of pedestals, with each pedestal having a plurality of discrete egg support members cooperating to form a seating arrangement portion for contacting and supporting an end of an egg in the egg carrier. An associated assembly and method are also provided.

The present disclosure relates to a computer-controlled system for non-invasively identifying the location of the air cell of an egg and determining a preferred extraction point relative to the position of the air cell of the egg, the system having an egg manipulator to hold and orient one or more eggs in a defined position; a candling unit with one or more light sources and one or more detectors; a system configured to run an algorithm for determining the location of the air cell and the preferred extraction point; and a system for positioning the egg relative to an extractor or an egg opener or vice versa from their initial position to the preferred extraction point.

The present disclosure relates to a system configured to inject objects, such as eggs, with a fluid, wherein said objects each comprise at least two object parts, such as embryo tissue, embryotic or allantoic fluid and an air pocket, of which at least one object part is to be injected, by advancing injection needles to a determined depth, which depth is expected to correspond with the at least one object part to be injected, into the objects and injecting fluid into the objects at the determined injection depth. The system a sensor to monitor pressure or flow of the fluid during injecting, and to generate a monitoring signal, the control being configured to detect an operational state of the needles and/or the fluid, indicating proper operation or defect in the system, such as a blocked fluid line and/or needle, based on the monitoring signal representing the monitored pressure or flow.

Methods and systems of promoting fertilization of eggs of an avian. While inseminating a plurality of avian eggs a spectrum substantially concentrated within a narrow range of wavelength irradiates the plurality of inseminated avian eggs to increase the motility of the sperm to increase the probability of conception of avian from the inseminated eggs.

The invention relates to a method for the Raman spectroscopic, in ovo sex determination of fertilized and hatched birds' eggs (1), wherein the embryo, including the extra-embryonic structures, can move in the egg, and is not yet attached to the shell at the time of measuring. In addition, the following steps are carried out: monitoring the time course of the hatched egg until forming at least one recognizable blood vessel (21); creating a hole (2) in the shell in the region near to the attached bloody vessel, using a hole-generating unit; finding the blood vessel forming in the egg, using a vision system (19, 13) and a coaxial or lateral illumination with light (10a) in the visible wavelength range; positioning at least one blood vessel in the laser focus of a laser source (3), either by moving the egg or moving a lens (6) of a device (5) for introducing the laser light (3a), and detecting the Raman scattered radiation (7); registering the Raman scattered radiation of the irradiated blood vessel using the device for introducing the laser light, and for detecting the Raman scattered radiation, wherein, during the measuring process, a movement of the blood vessel out of the focus can be avoided by tracking using the vision system; evaluating the Raman scattered radiation in an evaluation unit; determining and displaying the sex of the embryo in the bird's egg.

The invention relates to a method for the Raman spectroscopic, in ovo sex determination of fertilised and hatched birds' eggs (1), wherein the embryo, including the extra-embryonic structures, can move in the egg, and is not yet attached to the shell at the time of measuring. In addition, the following steps are carried out: monitoring the time course of the hatched egg until forming at least one recognisable blood vessel (21); creating a hole (2) in the shell in the region near to the attached bloody vessel, using a hole-generating unit; finding the blood vessel forming in the egg, using a vision system (19, 13) and a coaxial or lateral illumination with light (10a) in the visible wavelength range; positioning at least one blood vessel in the laser focus of a laser source (3), either by moving the egg or moving a lens (6) of a device (5) for introducing the laser light (3a), and detecting the Raman scattered radiation (7); registering the Raman scattered radiation of the irradiated blood vessel using the device for introducing the laser light, and for detecting the Raman scattered radiation, wherein, during the measuring process, a movement of the blood vessel out of the focus can be avoided by tracking using the vision system; evaluating the Raman scattered radiation in an evaluation unit; determining and displaying the sex of the embryo in the bird's egg.

An egg identification system for determining viability of an avian egg is provided. Such a system includes an emitter assembly configured to emit electromagnetic radiation toward an egg. A detector assembly is axially aligned with the emitter assembly to detect electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the egg. The detector assembly is spaced-apart from the egg during operation thereof such that the detector assembly does not contact the egg. The detected electromagnetic radiation is used to generate an output signal. The output signal is processed to determine whether there exists a periodic variation or an aperiodic perturbation in an intensity of the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the egg corresponding to action of a heart or embryo movement, wherein the existence of the periodic variation or aperiodic perturbation indicates that the egg is viable. An associated method is also provided.