Poultry business update: What did you miss this August?

We’re keeping our finger on the pulse and bring you a summary of the latest business updates from the global poultry industry this August, including the first major US egg producer to implement in-ovo sexing technology, and WingScan’s first international placement of the automated chick feather sex identification system. This and more.

Targan secures first international placement with Trouw Nutrition North America

Animal agtech company Targan has secured its first international placement of WingScan. The automated chick feather sex identification system has been delivered and installed at Trouw Nutrition’s Ramsay Hatchery in Saint-Félix-de-Valois, Québec, Canada. With a throughput of up to 100,000 chicks per hour, the advanced imaging system uses artificial intelligence to achieve the equivalent performance of up to 32 or more manual bird sexers, with an in-field accuracy of up to 98%. The system is said to help tackle labour challenges, expedite delivery and shorten the time chicks spend at the site, and is also less invasive on birds.

Aviagen signs agreement for grandparent distribution in Oman

Aviagen has signed an agreement with Osool Poultry, a Ross Parent Stock customer in Oman, which enables them to be the exclusive Grandparent distributor of Ross parent stock throughout the country. Osool Poultry was established in 2016 with the aim of producing 150 million hatching eggs annually to meet the needs within Oman and neighboring countries. Osool currently imports day-old parent stock chicks from Aviagen to allow the company to sustain its annual broiler hatching egg production capacity. This collaboration is of great importance to the local market as it addresses logistical challenges and costs, and also mitigates health risks associated with poultry imports, enhancing poultry self-sufficiency in Oman.

NestFresh sets industry standard using new in-ovo sexing technology for ethical egg production

NestFresh will become the first major US egg producer to implement innovative in-ovo sexing technology, which determines the sex of chicks while still inside the egg, eliminating the need to euthanise newborn male chicks and marking a significant advancement in animal welfare. Mike Sencer, executive VP: “NestFresh will be the first to actually implement this technology and bring in-ovo sexed eggs to the US market[…] Having collaborated with various systems and hatcheries, we have now placed orders for in-ovo chicks, with our eggs expected to hit the market by mid-2025.”

Evonik completes MetAmino production in Singapore

The expansion of Evonik’s MetAmino (DL-methionine) production facilities in Singapore has been completed. The production on Jurong Island is again running at full capacity, after shutdowns in Q4/2023 and Q2/2024. The production capacity has been increased by 40,000 metric tonnes, bringing the total to 340,000 metric tonnes per year.