28 August 2024

2 minute read

By: Laurence Williams

Agri Advanced Technologies (AAT), a leader in poultry breeding technologies, and part of the EW Group, is excited to introduce its Cheggy technology to the U.S. market. As the first advanced non-invasive in-ovo sex determination system available at the end of this year in America, Cheggy sets a new benchmark for speed, efficiency, and sustainability in animal welfare, providing a transformative solution for the poultry industry.

The U.S. poultry industry, particularly within the brown egg sector, is witnessing a growing consumer preference for organic and free-range eggs. Cheggy’s non-invasive and efficient technology aligns with this trend, offering a welfare solution of sexing embryos before hatch.

Jörg Hurlin, founder and CEO of AAT, expressed his excitement about the U.S. launch, stating, "The launch of Cheggy in two U.S. hatcheries marks a giant step forward for non-invasive in-ovo sex determination technology. This is more than just a technical innovation—it's a transformative approach that aligns with the growing demand for welfare and sustainable practices in the poultry industry.”

Cheggy enables the determination of chick sex before hatching, using advanced hyperspectral imaging to accurately identify the sex of an embryo based on feather color. With the capability to process up to 25,000 eggs per hour, Cheggy is one of the fastest and most efficient solutions on the market, meeting the high demands of modern hatcheries while upholding the highest standards of animal welfare. This scalability makes Cheggy not only a technological innovation but also a practical solution for large-scale operations seeking to improve both efficiency and ethical standards.

Cheggy is already operational in seven hatcheries with 12 machines across Europe, including in countries such as France, Germany, and Italy. Cheggy’s introduction to the U.S. market reflects AAT’s commitment to advancing the global poultry industry towards more sustainable and humane practices.