Live Embryo Detection

The challenge: biosecurity

In a hatchery non-viable eggs can be a biological hazard, especially when they are rotten or contain a dead embryo. In many cases these eggs hold pathogenic bacteria, which can break or explode during take-out, injection or during the transfer process in a hatchery. Giving an increased risk of contaminating other eggs and creating an enormous health challenge for the newborn chicks later on.

Innovation: heartbeat technology

To overcome this problem Viscon introduced Live Embryo Detection. Live Embryo Detection accurately detects every egg with a living embryo by using a patented heartbeat sensor. The eggs without a living embryo are classified as infertile, early dead, or late dead embryos. Based on this information only the living eggs are selectively handled during vaccination and transfer processes in a hatchery. This leaves the non-viable eggs (including the rotten eggs) untouched for further processing in a separate waste room. The result is a more hygienic environment in the transfer area which helps prevent bacterial contamination.

Proven innovation

Live Embryo Detection has been sparking a lot of interest in the applications and benefits that it can deliver to a hatchery. Hatcheries over 5 different continents have been adopting Live Embryo Detection since the introduction in 2014. A total of 1.330.570.000 Live Embryos are being detected each year! We have asked hatcheries all over the world to provide comments about Live Embryo Detection. They indicated several enormous benefits: