American company to debut eggs from in-ovo sexed chicken flock [Video]

American company NestFresh will begin marketing eggs from in-ovo sexed chickens next year, a feat it’s touting as a leap forward for animal welfare.

‘In-ovo sexing’ refers to the use of technology to gender-type chicken embryos before they hatch to avoid the standard practice of euthanizing day-old male chicks. Male-determined eggs are removed from incubators at nine days, which is believed to be before embryos have developed the ability to feel pain.

NestFresh announced on Dec. 17 it had delivered a flock of in-ovo sexed chicks to a farm in Texas. It will begin marking eggs in June.

“By being the first U.S. egg company to adopt …