In-Ovo Sexing Announced for US Market

The moment is finally here: in-ovo sexing has been announced for the US market.

John Brunnquell, President and Founder of Egg Innovations, a prominent specialty egg producer in the US, announced in a New York Times article his intention to bring in-ovo sexing to the US in 2025.

According to the Times, “the main hatchery [Brunnquell] uses was on track to adopt the technology in early 2025 and that he expected to begin selling eggs produced with the new technique late next summer.” Brunnquell stated “The assumption is, once we start, some other people will follow. Someone has to move the needle.”

On his LinkedIn, Brunnquell further elaborated, “Egg Innovations will be the first company to implement in-ovo sexing technology in the U.S. With humane care centric to our mission, this commitment is a huge step as we will be able to label our products ‘free of chick culling.’”

The announcement comes on the back considerable discussion in the industry about how to bring this technology to the US, including at IPPE 2024, one of the largest poultry trade events ever held. There, in-ovo sexing was widely considered the conference’s unofficial theme.

Brunnquell did not mention which hatchery he would be partnering with, due to a nondisclosure agreement. Nevertheless, the announcement was met with considerable enthusiasm by the NYT commenters who expressed interest in buying these higher welfare eggs once they start hitting the shelves. One commenter from the midwest US said, “Ever since cage free, humanely produced eggs were available, our family has been consuming them, even though they cost twice or more than the eggs produced under massive industrial practice. Our family will be eagerly waiting the new innovative production of eggs.”

Read the full New York Times article here.