Enhancing animal welfare through artificial intelligence
It is widely recognized that artificial intelligence has a profound impact on many areas of life and work. The egg industry provides a compelling example of how AI can also be used to promote animal welfare. Thanks to this innovation, male chicks in Switzerland no longer have to be culled unnecessarily.
«Together we are strong» – under this motto, an innovative industry solution was found for a long-standing problem in the egg industry: Until recently, all male chicks in conventional egg production were culled immediately after hatching. This was for economic reasons: They do not lay eggs and produce less meat compared to broiler chickens. The organic sector has been taking an alternative approach for some time by rearing so-called brother chickens. Thanks to the commitment of stakeholders across the entire value chain, conventional egg production has also been gradually phasing out conventional, non-animal-friendly practices since the beginning of the year.
Solution thanks to the latest technologies
The solution? A combination of the well-known magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and artificial intelligence. Specifically, during the pre-incubation phase, i.e. on the 11th to 12th day after the eggs are laid, the eggs are scanned using MRI technology. The images are analyzed with the help of artificial intelligence. Thanks to this technology, it is already possible to recognize in the fertilized egg whether a female or male chick will develop inside. The eggs with the female chicks are returned to the pre-incubation, while the incubation of the eggs with the male embryos is professionally aborted – at a time when they are not yet sensitive to pain. This approach ensures that male chicks are no longer needlessly culled.
Lucerne companies in the spotlight
Switzerland is the first country in the world to apply this innovative solution across the industry. At the heart of it all is a company from the canton of Lucerne: Prodavi SA from Schötz, which belongs to Hobet AG, founded in 1990 by Franz Hodel and based in Oberkirch. Together with Animalco AG, Schongau, the company played a key role in developing the new approach. As one of the leading providers in Swiss egg production (55% market share for conventional laying chicks), Prodavi is thus sending out a clear signal for innovation and animal welfare. The prospects for male chicks are good: the new technology will be fully implemented in both hatcheries by the end of 2025.
Switzerland and Lucerne as a role model
This initiative is positioning Switzerland as a global pioneer. The example shows how, under the leadership of the industry association Gallo Suisse and with the help of new technologies, an economically, ecologically and ethically sensible solution has been found. Close cooperation between research, business and policymakers is making ethical farming practices a reality – and the Lucerne-based companies Prodavi and Animalco are making a decisive contribution to this.
Click here to see two films illustrating the innovative solution:
Animalco
Prodavi
Prodavi SA is a family-owned Swiss company based in Schötz that specializes in the production and marketing of layer chicks and pullets. The company covers the entire production chain - from the parent stock to the hatchery to the rearing and keeping of the animals. Prodavi SA attaches great importance to sustainability, animal welfare and transparency and works closely with farms to ensure the highest Swiss animal husbandry standards.
Prodavi SA
Sentmatte 1
6247 Schötz/LU
www.prodavi.ch
Animalco AG, based in Schongau, is one of the leading hatcheries for laying hens in Switzerland. The company specializes in the production of laying hens of the Lohmann breeds and offers both conventional and organic chicks. Animalco oversees the entire production chain: from rearing the parent stock to hatching egg production, hatchery and delivery of the chicks to farms.
Animalco AG
Guggibadstrasse 15
6288 Schongau
www.animalco.ch
Kathrin Scherer
Head of Business Development
Phone +41 41 367 44 07