Plans Stalled to Reduce Male Chick Culling in the US

Plans to eliminate the cruel culling of male chicks in the US have faced delays as the egg industry routinely kills male chicks, deeming them unprofitable as they cannot lay eggs. This practice results in the deaths of six billion male chicks globally each year. Kipster, a Dutch-based egg producer, aimed to end male chick culling in its US supply chain using in-ovo sexing technology. This technology allows for the determination of the sex of a chick embryo before it hatches, enabling male eggs to be discarded before they develop. However, delays in implementing the technology in the US were due to the need to ensure a sufficient market for sexed eggs.

Despite initial plans to raise male chicks for meat in the US, Kipster struggled to find a processor who could work at an affordable scale and price. Walmart has also updated its animal welfare policies to prioritize “gendering innovation” within their egg supply chain. Respeggt, a technology company collaborating with Kipster, is set to install its in-ovo sexing technology at Kipster’s Nebraska hatchery, with plans for sexed eggs to reach the market by late 2025.