LIVE PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE
Operational Excellence with the Genus Focus
Through AI powered MRI, we bridge the gap between ethical compliance and high-volume commercial viability.
Genus Focus for in-ovo sexing: a humane breakthrough in poultry farming
Accurate, non-invasive, and fully automated technology for more sustainable and efficient hatchery operations.
OUR SOLUTION
Introducing the Genus Focus for in-ovo sexing
The sex of a hatching egg is only visible from inside the egg. We turn the inside out - revealing the sex with non-invasive AI-powered MRI at an industrial scale.
Non-invasive proven accuracy
Less than 1% males in a hatch ensures reliable in-ovo sexing at an industrial scale.
Fully automated
From trolley to trolley, only one operator is required, streamlining hatchery operations.
Intelligent operations
Seamless data integration for fact-based, transparent decision-making.
Proven at commerical scale
Deployed in operating hatcheries across 6 countries, with the world's leading layer genetics companies.
Accuracy
99.5%
eggs scanned
200, 000, 000
installations
11
Non-invasive solutions
Our installations
We have installations in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland. A United States installation of the Genus Focus is in progress.
France
Germany
Netherlands
Norway
Switzerland
USA
How does the Genus Focus for in-ovo sexing work?
Watch a video of our installation at our customer's site.
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Solutions
What our clients say about us
We see the non-invasive Orbem solution as the best solution in the market and are very pleased to cooperate to bring this solution to the industry. This MRI-based non-invasive solution is fully in line with our vision to deliver solutions for successful poultry husbandry with the lowest possible environmental impact while achieving the highest animal welfare levels.
Orbem provides a reliable system for in-ovo sexing that offers additional advantages. First, it is a non-invasive method that, as we see inside our hatchery, has little to no impact on hatchability or chick health. Second, the system is continuously updated, making it faster and more efficient over time. It also works reliably for both brown and white layer genetics and is fully scalable.
The problem
Over 7 billion male chicks are culled each year—a practice with significant ethical, economic, and sustainability consequences.
In the layer industry, male chicks are culled shortly after hatching because they cannot lay eggs and are unsuitable for meat production. This widespread practice creates a massive ethical challenge and significant operational waste.
In-ovo sexing, a solution to end male chick culling
What is in ovo sexing?
The term "in-ovo" is derived from Latin and means "within the egg." In-ovo sexing is an advanced technology that determines the sex of a chick before it hatches. Sexing is done by analyzing certain biological markers that can be identified through various methodologies.
WHEN SHOULD IN-OVO SEXING BE PERFORMED?
The timing of in-ovo sexing is crucial, as it should take place before the embryo can feel pain on incubation day 13. Depending on the method, it usually occurs between Day 9 and Day 12 of incubation. Choosing a humane sexing window improves efficiency and enhances hatchery sustainability.
Non-invasive solutions
The advantage of non-invasive solutions
Invasive methods introduce biosecurity risks and cause significant stress to the embryo as they laser a hole in the shell to collect a sample. Non-invasive solutions offer humane alternatives that have no impact on hatchability, pose no biosecurity risks, and are free from flock age limitations.
How we make it possible
The powerful combination of MRI and AI
MRI sees inside. AI understands what it sees. Together, our AI and MRI translate complex biology into simple, actionable intelligence - non-invasively and at an industrial scale. This combination unlocks a new level of transparency in decision-making for a healthier, more sustainable world.
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Fully automated in-ovo sexing
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01
Operator brings trolley to the machine
02
Robot moves egg trays to conveyor belt
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MRI scans eggs and AI classifies eggs
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Robot sorts eggs into classes and trays
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Operator takes trolley away
Our partnership with the Vencomatic Group
For 40 years, the Vencomatic Group has led the way in cage-free farming, offering solutions across the entire egg value chain—from housing and handling to climate control. Their automation expertise meets our deep-tech insights in the Genus Focus system. This solution seamlessly integrates Orbem’s AI-powered imaging with Vencomatic's robust equipment, creating a modular, non-invasive way to see inside eggs. It provides real-time in-ovo sexing by day 12 of incubation and before. The Genus Focus achieves a throughput of up to 3,275 eggs per hour per module.
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the most common questions about how the Genus Focus works, its accuracy, compliance, impact on hatchability, and more.
What are in-ovo sexing technologies?
In-ovo sexing is a technology that determines the sex of a chicken embryo before it hatches, without damaging the egg. The term "in-ovo" is Latin for "within the egg."
Does the Genus Focus affect hatchability?
No. The Genus Focus is fully non-invasive; it uses magnetic resonance imaging without puncturing the eggshell, meaning no biosecurity risk and no measurable impact on hatchability or chick health.
Does the Genus Focus work for all chicken breeds?
Yes. The Genus Focus works reliably on all commercial breeds, and works accurately for both brown and white layer genetics.
How accurate is the Genus Focus?
The Genus Focus has less than 1% male chicks in the female-identified hatch, validated across live installations in six countries.
How many eggs can the Genus Focus process per hour?
The Genus Focus handles up to 3,275 eggs per hour per module, fully automated from trolley to trolley with only one operator required.
On which day of incubation does the Genus Focus in-ovo sex the eggs?
Sexing occurs before incubation day 13, and hence before the threshold beyond which an embryo cannot feel pain. The Genus Focus typically operates between day 11 and day 12.
In which countries is the Genus Focus installed?
The Genus Focus is deployed in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, and the USA.
Is the Genus Focus compliant with European regulations on male chick culling?
Yes. The Genus Focus complies with German and French regulations, which mandate non-invasive or early-stage sexing as an alternative to post-hatch male chick culling.
How does the Genus Focus system work?
First, eggs are transported to the system and automatically loaded onto the conveyor belt. Then, the MRI scans the eggs in less than one second, while AI algorithms determine their sex. Once out of the MRI, the eggs are sorted. Females go back to incubation.
Why are contactless or non-invasive solutions better?
Contactless solutions offer significant advantages, as they do not have an impact on hatchability, pose no biosecurity risks, and are free from flock age limitations. In contrast, methods that involve fluid sampling require perforating the eggshell, which introduces biosecurity risks and imposes a restriction based on the strength of the eggshell, limiting their applicability to certain flock ages.
Is the Genus Focus an established solution?
The Genus Focus has been in operation since January 2023, scanning millions of eggs with different genetics across France, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United States.
Does the Genus Focus technology affect embryo development?
MRI is a safe imaging technology that, unlike X-ray or CT, does not emit ionizing radiation and won’t affect embryo development. Since starting operations in January 2023, no effect on female hatchability has been observed.
What happens to the male and clear eggs?
These eggs can be recycled for various industries, including the production of high-quality protein feed used in the pet food sector.
Is there a way to check what's inside an egg without cracking it open?
Yes. Using the Genus Focus AI-powered MRI, you can look inside the egg without breaking its eggshell or affecting the embryo inside.
Does the Genus Focus pose a risk hazard for the operators?
The MRI magnetic field is clearly marked and completely contained in a separate room (magnet room). This room is only accessible to trained staff. During regular operations, the magnet room does not need to be accessed.
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Let’s create insight together
Connect with our team to explore how AI-powered MRI can transform your production from the inside out.