Australia’s first in-ovo sexed chicks delivered in commercial layer industry first

Friday 12th June, Huntley, VIC: Specialised Breeders Australia (SBA), Australia’s leading supplier of commercial layer genetics, has successfully delivered the country’s first commercial  in-ovo sexed day old chicks to McLean Farms.

The inaugural placement was made in June 2026, making McLean Farms the first commercial egg producer in Australia to receive chicks produced using in-ovo sex determination technology.

In May, SBA announced that it had become the first company in the Asia-Pacific region to introduce in-ovo sexing for commercial egg producers through the use of Agri Advanced Technology (AAT)’s Cheggy technology. Cheggy uses a non‑invasive, hyperspectral light‑based optical analysis to determine the sex of a chick prior to hatching at a commercially viable scale, enhancing animal welfare in egg production.

With the first commercial placement now complete, Australia joins a growing number of countries, including Germany, France, Brazil and the United States, where the technology is being used commercially. In the EU, in-ovo sexing technology has reached 28% market penetration.

According to Innovate Animal Ag’s Australian consumer survey, conducted by Ipsos in August 2025 with 1,000 Australian consumers, there is strong market demand in Australia for eggs produced using in-ovo sexing. 84% of respondents expressed interest in purchasing in-ovo sexed eggs, and 66% were willing to pay a premium.

Eugene Viljoen, Chief Executive Officer of Specialised Breeders Australia, said: “The delivery of Australia’s first commercial in-ovo sexed chicks is a proud moment for SBA and a genuine milestone for our industry. As Australia’s market-leading supplier of commercial layer genetics, we are investing in innovations that support the long-term needs of egg producers: our belief is that Australian producers deserve access to the best technology the world has to offer and should be able to produce new products in response to changing consumer expectations.”

SBA will produce in-ovo sexed chicks as an additional product offering available from June 2026, registered with the “Certified Humane” trademark.

Melinda Hashimoto, Chief Executive Officer of Egg Farmers of Australia, said: “Australian egg farmers work tirelessly to produce high-quality eggs while meeting the evolving expectations of consumers and the community. The commercial delivery of in-ovo sexed chicks is a positive development for our industry, that will provide greater, high-welfare product options for layers and the end consumer. We congratulate SBA and McLean Farms on this milestone.”

About Specialised Breeders Australia

Specialised Breeders Australia (SBA) is Australia’s leading supplier of commercial layer genetics. SBA supplies Hy-Line and Lohmann genetics to egg producers throughout Australia and remains committed to innovation, technical excellence, and investing in the future of the Australian egg industry.

About Agri Advanced Technologies (AAT)

Agri Advanced Technologies GmbH (AAT), based in Visbek, Germany, specialises in the development of application-specific technologies for poultry breeding and management. These include in-ovo sexing machines, sorting and vaccination systems for broiler production, and egg disinfection solutions. As part of a global network, AAT works closely with stakeholders across the value chain and in research. The company regularly collaborates with external institutions such as universities, research organizations, agricultural associations, producers, and trading companies. AAT is a pioneer and market leader in in-ovo sex determination in Europe, with applications in Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. AAT operates three high-capacity Cheggy machines in the USA and is also present since 2025 in Brazil. With the new installation in Australia, AAT is now able to meet customer demand in Asia-Pacific as well.

About Cheggy

Cheggy delivers high‑speed, high‑volume processing while integrating easily into existing hatchery workflows. As a fully non‑invasive procedure, the technology mitigates contamination risks and ensures the safety of the embryo throughout the measurement and sorting process.

Additional advantages include:

• High throughput of 20,000 eggs per hour – capable of processing large volumes suitable for commercial hatcheries.
• Cost‑efficient operation – no consumables, no single‑use waste, and minimal maintenance requirements.
• Compact footprint – a small spatial requirement for easy integration into hatcheries of varying sizes.
• Improved sustainability – enabling early selection helps the industry address long‑standing challenges related to male chicks in layer production.