Study Identifies Day 12 as Target for In-Ovo Egg Sexing

A study recently published by the Federal Agricultural Ministry in Germany sought to identify when during development a chicken embryo becomes capable of pain. They found that neurological responses to negative stimuli start at day 13 of the eggs 21-day incubation period. This finding likely means that when the prohibition against chick culling in Germany goes into full effect in 2024, eggs will be able to be destroyed up to day 12 of incubation. Notably, this means that many of the in-market in-ovo egg sexing technologies are likely to continue to be compliant with German law.

A summary of the study can be found here, English translation here.

Background

In 2019, Germany banned the culling of male chicks in egg production. The law was scheduled to go into full effect at the beginning of 2024, at which point producers would have been prohibited from culling chicks after day 6 of incubation. This threshold was based on the best scientific evidence available at the time, which suggested that embryos may be able to feel pain starting on day 7. No commercialized technology could determine the sex of an egg that early on into development, leaving uncertainty over what was going to happen when the law went into full effect.

A number of other European countries have instituted similar restrictions, with various requirements around when eggs are allowed to be destroyed. The European Commission has also signaled openness to a culling ban across the entire European Union (EU).

Results

To ensure that the law was not overly burdensome on producers, the German government commissioned a study to gather further evidence on when embryos begin to be able to feel pain. They subjected chicken embryos to negative stimuli at various stages of incubation, and measured a variety of responses including heart rate (HR), blood pressure (MAP), brain activity (EEG), and the behavior of the chick’s body.

They found that brain activity was the earliest response, starting on day 13. Beak movement responses started on day 15, blood pressure on day 16, heart rate on day 17, and body movement on day 18

From these results, they concluded that eggs can be destroyed on day 12 without concern for the welfare of the unhatched chick. This is significantly later than the previous day-7 threshold. It’s likely that the German law will be adjusted according to these results, and other European countries may follow suit.

What does this mean for the industry?

The most important implication of this study is that a number of technologies currently being used in the market may end up being compliant with German law. Allantoic sampling solutions generally work around day 9, and Orbem’s MRI-based solution works on day 12 (see our market snapshot here). Previously, it was thought that once the German law came into full effect, eggs sexed via these methods would be illegal in Germany. However, if the German law merely requires eggs to be sexed before day 13, these solutions could be compliant. This is extremely promising news for the success of in-ovo sexing technology.

Producers in the US will not be required to comply with German or EU law for eggs produced and sold in the US. However, if day 12 becomes standardized in Europe, this could affect which solutions are available for American egg producers, and which solutions American consumers end up preferring.