New Sector-Wide Initiative Introduces Genus Focus for In-Ovo Sexing in Switzerland to End Chick Culling

In a sector-wide initiative that can be categorized as nothing short of innovative, Switzerland is effectively putting an end to chick culling. Starting in early 2025, Swiss hatcheries are introducing the Genus Focus for in-ovo sexing to determine the sex of chicken embryos before hatching. The Genus Focus is an AI-based imaging technology built by the Munich-based company Orbem and its automation partner, Vencomatic Group. Switzerland’s proactive choice to introduce in-ovo sexing represents a major move towards increased animal welfare, sustainability, as well as economical thinking. With their unanimous decision to end chick culling, Switzerland’s poultry stakeholders are setting a precedent. For the first time, a nation-wide decision to end the practice of chick-culling was made without regulatory enforcement.

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