Eggs being sorted and moved on a conveyor belt in an egg processing factory.

Genus Focus for in-ovo sexing: a humane breakthrough in poultry farming

Q: What is in ovo sexing?

The term 'in-ovo' is derived from Latin and means 'within the egg.' In-ovo sexing is an advanced technology that determines the sex of a chick before it hatches. Sexing is done by analyzing certain biological markers that can be identified through various methodologies.

Accurate, non-invasive, and fully automated technology for more sustainable and efficient hatchery operations.

OUR SOLUTION

Introducing the Genus Focus for in-ovo sexing

The sex of a hatching egg is only visible from inside the egg. We turn the inside out - revealing the sex with non-invasive AI-powered MRI at an industrial scale.  

Non-invasive proven accuracy

Less than 1% males in a hatch ensures reliable in-ovo sexing at an industrial scale.

Fully automated

From trolley to trolley, only one operator is required, streamlining hatchery operations.

Intelligent operations

Seamless data integration for fact-based, transparent decision-making.

The problem

Over 7 billion male chicks are culled each year—a practice with significant ethical, economic, and sustainability consequences.

Hands holding a red crate filled with numerous yellow baby chicks.

In the layer industry, male chicks are culled shortly after hatching because they cannot lay eggs and are unsuitable for meat production. This widespread practice creates a massive ethical challenge and significant operational waste.

In-ovo sexing, a solution to end male chick culling

What is in ovo sexing?

The term "in-ovo" is derived from Latin and means "within the egg." In-ovo sexing is an advanced technology that determines the sex of a chick before it hatches. Sexing is done by analyzing certain biological markers that can be identified through various methodologies.

WHEN SHOULD IN-OVO SEXING BE PERFORMED?

The timing of in-ovo sexing is crucial, as it should take place before the embryo can feel pain on incubation day 13th. Depending on the method, it usually occurs between Day 9 and Day 12 of incubation. Choosing a humane sexing window improves efficiency and enhances hatchery sustainability.

Non-invasive solutions

The advantage of non-invasive solutions

Invasive methods introduce biosecurity risks and cause significant stress to the embryo as they laser a hole in the shell to collect a sample. Non-invasive solutions offer humane alternatives that have no impact on hatchability, pose no biosecurity risks, and are free from flock age limitations.

Close-up of a machine applying red tops to light-colored chess pawns secured in plastic holders.

How we make it possible

The powerful combination of MRI and AI

MRI sees inside. AI understands what it sees. Together, our AI and MRI translate complex biology into simple, actionable intelligence - non-invasively and at an industrial scale. This combination unlocks a new level of transparency in decision-making for a healthier, more sustainable world.

How does the Genus Focus for in-ovo sexing work?

Watch a video of our installation at our customer's site.

Person in white protective clothing pushing a large rack filled with trays down a corridor lined with closed cabinet doors.

Non-invasive solutions

Our installations

We have installations in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland. A United States installation of the Genus Focus is in progress.

France

Germany

Netherlands

Norway

Switzerland

USA

Solutions

What our clients say about us

This technology is an important milestone for LOHMANN Deutschland and is a unique solution to the German market. The Genus Focus, developed by Orbem, is a contactless in-ovo sexing solution that has no impact on hatchability and complies with German regulations. We are pleased to be able to offer our customers another option for sex determination.

Tobias Ferling

Managing Director of LOHMANN Deutschland

We see the non-invasive Orbem solution as the best solution in the market and are very pleased to cooperate to bring this solution to the industry. This MRI-based non-invasive solution is fully in line with our vision to deliver solutions for successful poultry husbandry with the lowest possible environmental impact while achieving the highest animal welfare levels.

Dr. Lotte van de Ven

CEO Vencomatic Group

We’ve gained space inside our setters and hatchers, which has allowed us to set more eggs and to deliver more chicks with the same equipment. In the end, it has become an advantage to support our growth.

Frédérix Feyeux

Production manager, layers Hendrix Genetics France

The Genus Focus means more predictability for us. As in, we know how many eggs go in and how many female eggs come out.

Corné Verwijs

Hatchery Operation Manager, Pluriton, the Netherlands

Orbem provides a reliable system for in-ovo sexing that offers additional advantages. First, it is a non-invasive method that, as we see inside our hatchery, has little to no impact on hatchability or chick health. Second, the system is continuously updated, making it faster and more efficient over time. It also works reliably for both brown and white layer genetics and is fully scalable.

Hubertus Schulze-Heiling

Operational Manager Brüterei Bad Bentheim GmbH, Germany

Our partnership with Vencomatic Group

For 40 years, the Vencomatic Group has led the way in cage-free farming, offering solutions across the entire egg value chain—from housing and handling to climate control. Their automation expertise meets our deep-tech insights in the Genus Focus system. This solution seamlessly integrates Orbem’s AI-powered imaging with Vencomatic's robust equipment, creating a modular, non-invasive way to see inside eggs. It provides real-time in-ovo sexing by day 12 of incubation and before. The Genus Focus achieves a throughput of up to 3,275 eggs per hour per module. 