A new technology developed through a Canadian partnership could soon change how egg producers manage hatcheries by identifying the sex of chicks before they hatch.

Canadian Egg Technologies, a collaboration involving Egg Farmers of Canada and Egg Farmers of Ontario, has partnered with Danish equipment manufacturer Sanovo Technology Group and Quebec-based MatrixSpec Solutions to develop an in-ovo gender detection system. The technology is expected to become commercially available in Canada and other countries later this year or early in 2027.

The system uses hyperspectral imaging to examine fertilized eggs during the early stages of incubation. Developers say it can determine whether an embryo is male or female as early as the fourth day of development, earlier than many existing technologies currently on the market.

In commercial egg production, male chicks are generally not used because they do not lay eggs and are not bred for meat production. As a result, hatcheries have traditionally culled male chicks shortly after hatching. The new technology allows hatcheries to identify male embryos before hatching occurs, reducing the need for that practice. Research cited by developers indicates embryos are not capable of feeling pain during the earliest stages of incubation when the testing takes place.

Industry leaders say the technology could improve animal welfare while also making hatchery operations more efficient. By identifying female embryos earlier in the incubation process, hatcheries can dedicate more space and resources to birds destined for egg production. The platform has already been tested in hatchery settings and is designed to be used in facilities of different sizes.

The scanner technology may also provide additional benefits by helping detect egg fertility during incubation. Developers believe this could further improve efficiency and reduce waste within the industry.

Interest in in-ovo sexing technology has grown internationally as governments and consumers place greater emphasis on animal welfare. Several European countries have introduced restrictions or bans on the culling of newly hatched male chicks, encouraging hatcheries to adopt alternative approaches. Similar technologies are also being introduced in the United States and Australia as the poultry sector explores new methods to balance animal welfare, sustainability and production costs.

The Canadian-developed platform represents one of the latest efforts to modernize egg production through advanced imaging technology, offering producers another tool to improve both operational efficiency and public confidence in the industry.