Peter van Horne, poultry economist at Wageningen UR, supplies an financial replace
26 April 2024
3 minute learn
Peter van Horne, Poultry Economist at Wageningen College & Analysis, spoke with The Poultry Web site’s Melanie Epp on the Worldwide Egg Fee (IEC) Enterprise Convention in Edinburgh, Scotland. Van Horne offered an financial replace on the adoption of in-ovo sexing expertise in nations which have pledged to finish the culling of day-old male chicks.
Since in-ovo sexing expertise first hit the market, a lot has modified. In his IEC presentation, Van Horne targeted on three key developments which have helped form this evolving house since 2022: altering laws in Germany, the lowering worth of in-ovo sexing expertise, and technological enhancements which have led to a decline within the variety of male hens being produced for meat.
The adoption of in-ovo sexing expertise started in Germany the place laws banning the culling of day-old male chicks was launched in January 2022. Initially, legislators mentioned that in-ovo sexing expertise should be capable of decide chick embryo intercourse by day 7 of improvement. Nevertheless, that was later amended to day 12.
“There was proof that on day 12 there was no mind exercise within the embryo,” mentioned Van Horne.
The analysis that led to the legislative change discovered that creating chicks can not and don’t really feel ache earlier than day 13 of improvement.
The second improvement that’s helped form the market is that the price of in-ovo sexing expertise has declined significantly since 2022. Worth was not a barrier for the German market, Van Horne mentioned, as a result of laws was already in place and few choices for correct in-ovo sexing have been obtainable at the moment.
Within the early levels of improvement, adoption of in-ovo sexing expertise value hatcheries a further €4.00+ per male chook. Two years in the past, that worth dropped to €3.50 per male chook. At the moment, in-ovo sexing provides prices quantity to roughly €3.10 per male chook.
“That is the fee for intercourse dedication per male chook,” Van Horne defined. “So I added on the price of the pullet – the farmer has to pay €3.20 extra for the pullet – so the pullet goes from €4.00 to €7.20,” he mentioned.
“That is not related for the Germans, however for a lot of different nations in Europe, they’re ready for a lower in worth,” Van Horne added.
The third issue that’s helped push the adoption of in-ovo sexing expertise is the enhancements seen within the expertise itself. The trade’s 5 largest gamers – Seleggt, AAT, Plantegg, In Ovo and Orbem – have made vital enhancements when it comes to velocity and scale. Sexing errors have declined from 4–5% to 1%, which implies fewer male hens are being raised for meat. In earlier displays for IEC, Van Horne has been clear that male hen manufacturing is just not the best way ahead, as they require way more feed to placed on little or no meat and have a a lot bigger carbon footprint.
Competitors between expertise suppliers can be tightening.
“We have now extra corporations and now we have competitors now between these corporations, in order that’s additionally lowering the value,” Van Horne mentioned.
Van Horne expects this house to proceed to quickly evolve. At the moment, he mentioned, retailers in The Netherlands are discussing the potential of labelling egg cartons with the carbon footprint of the several types of manufacturing. He expects in-ovo sexing expertise will play a task within the potential scheme.
The Worldwide Egg Fee Enterprise Convention befell in Edinburgh, Scotland on April 14-16.
