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

A system and method to promote biological responses within incubated eggs using lighting devices within an incubation chamber. A light supporting device is installed within the incubation chamber in spaced relation to an incubation device housing a plurality of eggs. The light supporting device is positioned to direct light at pre-determined wavelengths into the interior cavity of the incubation device to irradiate the plurality of eggs to promote a biological response within the eggs.

The invention relates to a composition comprising a mixture of at least one strain of a bacterium of the genus Bacillus and at least one strain of lactic acid bacterium for use in the prevention of infections in farmed oviparous animals.

An egg-examining device, comprising a sampling device, by which a liquid sample to be taken can be taken from an egg of a rack loaded with eggs, a feeding device for feeding the rack loaded with eggs to the sampling device, and a control unit, by which the feeding device and the sampling device can be controlled. The feeding device feeds the rack to the sampling device at an oblique angle of between 20 and 80 to a plane perpendicular to the direction of gravity. A lifting-out device is provided, by which the egg can be lifted out of the rack and by which the egg can be put into a sampling position, in which the liquid amount to be taken can be taken from the egg by the sampling device.

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 present invention relates to a method for sampling an egg, the method comprising;

a) fluid coupling an interior of the egg to a source of pressure,
b) controlling the pressure in the interior of the egg by the source of pressure,
c) expelling an amount of fluid, in particular allantoic fluid, from the interior of the egg to the exterior of the egg as a result of the pressure in the interior of the egg, and
d) collecting at least a portion of the amount of fluid at the exterior surface of the egg.

A pathogen reduction tool implementing a method of processing eggs at a poultry hatchery is provided. Such a method includes setting a production quantity of avian eggs in a setter incubator, the eggs being maintained in a plurality of egg flats. The avian eggs are removed from the setter incubator on a predetermined day of incubation, such predetermined day being during about day nine to day twelve of incubation. Subsequent to removal of the avian eggs from the setter incubator, the avian eggs are subjected to an egg detection system on the predetermined day to determine which of the avian eggs are viable and non-viable. The non-viable avian eggs are removed from the egg flats on the predetermined day. The viable avian eggs remaining in the egg flats post-inspection by the egg detection system are incubated through hatch.

An injector, injection systems and methods for injecting a substance into an egg, where the injector includes a shaft, a sheath extending from the shaft in a longitudinal direction; a trocar positioned at least partly inside the sheath; and a needle at least partly inside the trocar. The injector can further include a locking mechanism configured to lock the trocar with the shaft in the longitudinal direction in a first position of the trocar relative to the sheath, the locking mechanism being further configured to unlock the trocar from the shaft in the longitudinal direction in a second position of the trocar relative to the sheath. The needle is fully inside the trocar in the first longitudinal position and at least partly extends from the trocar in the second longitudinal position.

A system and method to promote biological responses within incubated eggs using lighting devices within an incubation chamber. A light supporting device is installed within the incubation chamber in spaced relation to an incubation device housing a plurality of eggs. The light supporting device is positioned to direct light at pre-determined wavelengths into the interior cavity of the incubation device to irradiate the plurality of eggs to promote a biological response within the eggs.

A device to inject a composition into an egg includes a guide member, a first locking member and a second locking member. The guide member includes an outer casing secured to the injection needle and an inner casing which can move in translation inside the outer casing. The inner casing connected to the trocar and comprising a cup configured to bear on the upper part of the egg. The first locking member configured to block the movement of the trocar. The second locking member configured to block the movement of the injection needle inserted into the trocar.