In-Ovo Sexing Global Capacity Grew 60% in 2023
2023 saw a massive acceleration in the rollout of in-ovo sexing technology. The first commercial in-ovo sexing machine was installed in 2018, and in the subsequent five years until the end of 2022, 17 total machines were installed throughout Europe. During 2023, 10 additional machines were installed in five different countries, marking a nearly 60% increase in total machines installed globally in a single year.
Four companies accounted for this growth:
Orbem launched their MRI-based technology in Q1 at a Hendrix Genetics hatchery in Mûr-de-Bretagne, France. They quickly added three additional machines in a hatchery in Lankriet, France; Lohmann Deutschland’s hatchery in Dorum; and a Pluriton hatchery in the Netherlands.
Respeggt installed new machines in the Steinsland & Co hatchery in Norway, and the A.C. Weiss hatchery in south Germany. They also installed a second circuit at the Lohmann Deutschland Ankum hatchery where they were already operational.
In Ovo added a machine at the Vepymo hatchery in Belgium and doubled their capacity in the Het Anker hatchery in The Netherlands.
Plantegg added a second machine to Dutch hatchery Ter Heerdt where they were already operational.
Geographical distribution of these new machines was generally concentrated in Germany and France, the countries with male chick culling bans in effect, and The Netherlands, which exports many eggs to the French and German markets. One notable exception to this trend was the Steinsland & Co hatchery, which supplies two thirds of all layers for the Norwegian market. This was the first machine installed outside of the EU, indicating that in-ovo sexing may now be entering a phase of global expansion.
Original research conducted by Innovate Animal Ag in 2023 showed that as of September 2023, 15% of the layer population in Europe had been produced with in-ovo sexing. Much of this growth in machine installations would not be captured in this figure, since each machine needs some amount of time to become operational. Additionally, five of the ten new machines were installed in Q4, after the 15% figure was calculated. Therefore, total market penetration of in-ovo sexing will accelerate rapidly going into 2024 and beyond.
It takes an additional 5 months for hatched hens to begin laying eggs that would show up on grocery store shelves, meaning consumers may not notice this increase in capacity right away.
If you’re interested in learning more about the year of massive change in in-ovo sexing technology, you can read our full 2023 In-Ovo Sexing Annual Report here.
