ANIMAL WELFARE: LAUNCH OF IN OVO SEXING OF MUSCOVY AND MULE DUCKS

Grimaud Frères confirms the launch of duck egg sexing service.

The challenge for Grimaud Frères teams was to develop a non-intrusive method of egg sexing around the 9thday of incubation, thanks to their hatching know-how and the help of artificial intelligence. The objective for their customers is to have access to a male duckling that does not lead to the destruction of female ducklings when they are unwanted.
This project, result of several years of research, has required a common work between Grimaud Frères teams and external contractors. The positive tests encourage Grimaud Frères to move from an artisanal to an industrial method, motivated by a continuous improvement approach for the respect of animal welfare.
“It is a great project that has been set up, both structuring for Grimaud Frères and a disruptive innovation for the practices of the entire French Duck sector”, Stéphane Baudon, hatcheries manager said. He ads “The biggest challenge is large-scale industrialisation. We need to be agile and adapt our working methods, processes and production flows. We should not be frightened of these changes, which are an
opportunity to seize as a positive development of our activities. Together, we’re going to integrate today’s innovation, which will become tomorrow’s standard!”.

This in ovo sexing process, Lunix process by Grimaud Frères, has been rewarded by a 2 stars Innov’Space as well as a Sommet
d’Or 2020.