Donate
Membership
Get Involved
We've secured a major step forward for animal welfare in Victoria
In Victoria alone, an estimated 3-5 million male chicks are killed shortly after hatching each year. Nationally, this figure is up to 12 million.
These chicks are placed onto industrial conveyor belts, which drop them into high-speed macerating or live-grinding machines — a horrific end on their very first day of life. This is a standard part of conventional egg production, and occurs simply because male chicks can't lay eggs, making them unprofitable to the egg industry and unsuitable for meat production.
But there is now a solution that could end this barbaric practice in Australia forever: in-ovo sexing.
A Breakthrough Solution: In-Ovo Sexing
“In ovo” means “in egg.” This technology enables hatcheries to determine the sex of an embryo during early development, before hatching occurs. Eggs identified as male can be removed from incubation at this stage, preventing the need for post-hatch culling.
Importantly, this occurs before the embryo has developed the neurological capacity for pain perception, meaning it is widely considered to avoid pain or distress.
Other countries have already moved to ban male chick culling, supported by the adoption of in-ovo sexing technology as a practical alternative.
And now, thanks to Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell, this technology has been introduced to Australia.
This is a major win for animal welfare. It represents a real, practical step that will prevent millions of male chicks from being subjected to routine culling each year, and significantly reduce one of the most confronting practices in the egg industry.
From June 1, in-ovo sexing technology will be introduced at Specialised Breeders Australia (SBA), which operates in Georgie Purcell’s own electorate in Northern Victoria. We know this change will be welcomed by consumers, animal lovers, and the egg industry alike, and we are hopeful that hatcheries across Victoria and Australia will adopt this technology.
A Step Forward on a Much Bigger Issue
Importantly, in-ovo sexing does not solve every issue within animal agriculture. The Animal Justice Party recognises that animal use in food production raises broader ethical concerns that this reform alone does not resolve.
However, progress in animal welfare is often achieved step by step. Each reduction in suffering matters, especially when it prevents harm at such a large scale. In-ovo sexing is one of those steps — an evidence-based reform that reduces suffering now, while we continue the fight to end all animal exploitation.
FAQs
What is male chick culling and why does it happen?
Male chick culling is a routine practice in the egg industry where male chicks are removed shortly after hatching because they cannot lay eggs and are not economically viable for meat production. As a result, they are typically separated and killed within their first day of life as part of standard hatchery operations.
It is estimated that around 3–5 million male chicks are culled each year in Victoria alone, and up to 12 million nationally, although exact figures can vary between industry sources and production systems.
How does in-ovo sexing work?
There are currently four main methods of in-ovo sexing technology, including fluid sampling, DNA analysis, optical/light scanning and AI imaging.
Most follow the same basic process:
- Incubation — Fertilised eggs are incubated for several days until the embryo begins developing. Most systems test between Day 4–14 of incubation (depending on the technology used and legal standards in different countries).
- Sampling — A machine analyses the egg to identify the embryo’s sex. Different technologies use different approaches.
- Distinction — ‘Male’ eggs are then identified and removed from incubation before hatching.
All are designed to be used before the embryos can feel pain, and the technology is 99% accurate.
Does in-ovo sexing cause pain or suffering to the embryo?
In-ovo sexing is carried out at a very early stage of development, before the embryo has developed the neurological capacity for pain perception. For this reason, it is widely considered by animal welfare experts to avoid pain or distress.
Is in-ovo sexing available in Australia now?
Yes. In-ovo sexing technology is now being introduced in Australia for the first time, including at Specialised Breeders Australia in Northern Victoria, marking an important step toward reducing male chick culling.
Is this a complete solution to animal welfare issues in the egg industry?
No. While in-ovo sexing significantly reduces the immediate suffering associated with male chick culling, it does not address broader animal welfare concerns within egg production or animal agriculture more generally.
Why does the Animal Justice Party support this if it doesn’t end animal farming?
The Animal Justice Party supports reforms that reduce suffering to animals wherever possible. In-ovo sexing is a practical, evidence-based step that prevents the routine killing of millions of animals each year. While it does not resolve all ethical concerns, it represents meaningful progress within a broader system that still requires change.
What is the long-term goal?
The long-term goal is to move toward a food system that does not rely on the use and killing of animals. In-ovo sexing is a positive welfare improvement within the current system, but not the end point of the Animal Justice Party's animal protection efforts.
Once in-ovo sexing technology is commercially available, we will move to legislate a ban on male chick maceration altogether.
