By Andi Anderson
Kipster, a Dutch-based egg producer, is working to reduce male chick culling in the U.S. through in-ovo sexing technology. This method identifies the sex of an embryo before it hatches, allowing only female eggs to develop. While their goal to implement this by fall 2023 faced delays, the company is now moving ahead with plans.
Globally, over six billion male chicks are culled yearly because they don't lay eggs and don’t grow efficiently for meat. Kipster originally hoped to raise male chicks for meat, as done in the Netherlands, but challenges in U.S. processing made that plan unfeasible.
The company raised four flocks of roosters, but without proper market access, their meat was donated to food banks.
Sandra Vijn, who leads Kipster’s U.S. operations, says that in-ovo sexing is a second-best solution, helping reduce waste and animal suffering until better systems are available.
The technology will be installed at a Nebraska hatchery, with the first sexed eggs expected by summer 2025.
Though Kipster prefers raising roosters for meat, U.S. consumers are less open to eating rooster meat or meat from spent hens. Instead, these chickens are often used for pet food. In the Netherlands, however, consumers readily accept meat from laying breeds.
Kipster uses Dekalb white chickens in the U.S., known for laying up to 500 eggs in 100 weeks. However, this high production can lead to bone issues in hens, raising welfare concerns.
Bringing in-ovo technology to the U.S. required assurance that enough demand exists. With Walmart updating its animal welfare policy to support such innovations, wider adoption seems likely.
Kipster continues to promote ethical farming, aiming to reduce animal protein use and ensure all lives in their system serve a purpose.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-chubarovy
Categories: Indiana, Livestock, Poultry, Rural Lifestyle