(19)
(11)EP 2 890 973 B1

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45)Mention of the grant of the patent:
26.08.2020 Bulletin 2020/35

(21)Application number: 13802096.1

(22)Date of filing:  27.08.2013
(51)International Patent Classification (IPC): 
G01N 21/85(2006.01)
(86)International application number:
PCT/IB2013/002400
(87)International publication number:
WO 2014/033544 (06.03.2014 Gazette  2014/10)

(54)

SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF EMBRYONIC CHICK FEATHER COLOR

SPEKTROPHOTOMETRISCHE ANALYSE DER FEDERFARBE VON EMBRYONALE KÜKEN

ANALYSE SPECTROPHOTOMÉTRIQUE DE COULEUR DE PLUME DE POUSSIN EMBRYONNAIRE


(84)Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

(30)Priority: 31.08.2012 US 201261695453 P

(43)Date of publication of application:
08.07.2015 Bulletin 2015/28

(73)Proprietor: Agri Advanced Technologies GmbH
49429 Visbek (DE)

(72)Inventor:
  • MCKAY, James, C.
    Newbridge Midlothian EH28 8SZ (GB)

(74)Representative: Eisenführ Speiser 
Patentanwälte Rechtsanwälte PartGmbB Postfach 10 60 78
28060 Bremen
28060 Bremen (DE)


(56)References cited: : 
WO-A2-2010/150265
US-A1- 2011 144 473
US-B2- 7 289 196
US-A- 5 575 237
US-A1- 2012 058 052
  
  • Anonymous: "Stadien der Embryonalentwicklung", , 26 August 2019 (2019-08-26), XP055615419, Retrieved from the Internet: URL:http://www.projekt.didaktik.mathematik .uni-wuerzburg.de/mathei/eibio/embryonalen twicklung.htm [retrieved on 2019-08-26]
  • DOREEN GÖHLER ET AL: "In-ovo sexing of 14-day-old chicken embryos by pattern analysis in hyperspectral images (VIS/NIR spectra): A non-destructive method for layer lines with gender-specific down feather color", POULTRY SCIENCE, vol. 96, no. 1, 2 September 2016 (2016-09-02), pages 1-4, XP055602498, Oxford ISSN: 0032-5791, DOI: 10.3382/ps/pew282
  • S. F. Ridlen and H. S. Johnson: "FROM EGG TO CHICK", circular 878 , 1 February 1964 (1964-02-01), XP055672385, University of Illinois Retrieved from the Internet: URL:https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/102005 61.pdf [retrieved on 2020-02-28]
  
Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION



[0001] The invention relates generally to the determination of the feather color of an avian embryo and determining the sex of the embryo based, at least in part, upon the feather color.

BACKGROUND ART



[0002] In 2006, the United States produced more than 12 billion (12,000,000,000) chicken eggs. In the egg production industry, only the female chicks are productive and the male chicks are currently culled. The culling of male chicks typically occurs after hatching and presents serious problems both economically and ethically. Economically, culling the male chicks is labor intensive and requires that certain waste disposal guidelines be followed. Ethically, the large scale culling of male chicks is undesirable to the industry consumers and the general public.

[0003] While there are a number of known methods useful to screen or determine the sex of many avian species, both pre- and post-hatching, the known methods fall short for several reasons. For simplicity, much of the specification will refer to known methods, and the present invention, as they relate to determination of the sex of a chick. However, many of the known methods can be used to determine the sex of other avian species, and the novel system and methods disclosed herein can similarly be utilized for avian species other than chickens. For example, the known pre-hatch screening methods are in some cases unreliable and are only available relatively late in the twenty one (21) day developmental cycle of the chick embryo. Many of the known pre-hatch screening methods analyze chick sex only after day eleven (11) in development which is after the point of development that the chick embryo is considered a sentient animal.

[0004] Thus the known pre-hatch screening methods do not avoid the ethical issues associated with post-hatch sexing. Second, many of the current pre-hatch methods are invasive and require sampling the contents of the egg, often by penetrating, or creating a hole in, the egg shell, thus compromising egg quality, embryo survival, physically damaging the egg and potentially introducing a source of contamination. The samples taken from the egg then require cost and time, or intensive assays of DNA, hormones or other metabolites to determine sex.

[0005] The known post-hatch sexing methods suffer many of the same drawbacks and limitations as discussed above and require extensive labor and expense or present waste disposal and ethical issues. One wide spread method of determining chick sex after hatching is feather color differentiation, designated on Fig. 1 as "fc". Feathers are elaborate skin appendages that serve many functions on a bird, including communication, regulation of body temperature and in some species, flight. Feathers originate from feather follicles and in the modem chicken, beginning on the 8th day of incubation, feathers have begun to form, and they are readily apparent on the 10th day of incubation. Further, feather color or pigmentation exists by the 10th day of incubation, as shown in Fig. 1. Feather color is determined by the expression of certain pigments by the cells forming the feather/feather precursor. Using feather color differentiation fc to sex newly hatched chicks was developed over a century ago, and today, commercial breeds of chickens (as well as some wild type breeds) can be sexed at over 99% accuracy based upon feather color after hatching. One common color scheme used in feather color differentiation fc involves breeding chickens with a sex-linked genetic marker so that male chicks are born with brown feathers while female chicks are born with white feathers, or vice versa. As shown in Fig. 1 as an example of developing brown feathers in a female chick embryo, the differentiation of feather color fc may exist as early as days 8-10 of egg incubation in some breeds of chickens and persists to hatching.

[0006] WO 2010/150265 A2, US 5575237 A and XP 55672385 disclose hyperspectral identification of egg fertility and gender.

[0007] Accordingly, it is desirable that a method be developed that allows for the non-invasive embryonic (or pre-hatch) determination of chick sex using feather color.

[0008] The unmet needs described above, as well as others are addressed by various embodiments of the method defined in claim 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION



[0009] In some aspects, the invention relates to a method of screening an avian embryo feather color (pre-hatching) and determining the sex of the avian embryo, based at least in part, on the feather color or the color of feather precursors.

[0010] In other aspects, the invention relates to a method of screening chick embryo sex, the method comprising the steps of: (i) obtaining a chicken egg; (ii) exposing the chicken egg to, or contacting the chicken egg with, electromagnetic radiation emitted from an electromagnetic radiation source; (iii) determining the amount of absorption, diffusion, refraction, reflection or a combination of any of the forgoing, of the electromagnetic radiation by the chicken egg by using an imaging system; (iv) comparing the absorption, diffusion, refraction, reflection or a combination of any of the forgoing of the electromagnetic radiation by the chicken egg to a database; and (v) determining the sex of the chick embryo in the chicken egg, at least in part, as a result of the comparing step.

[0011] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS



[0012] To further the advantages and features of the present application, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It should be noted that identical features in different drawings are shown with the same reference numeral. It is appreciated that these drawings are not to be considered limiting in scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows the stages of embryonic development of a male chicken embryo with the feather color differentiation fc existing on day 10 of development.

Fig. 2 shows a flowchart diagram of one embodiment of screening embryonic chicks disclosed by the present application.

Fig. 3 shows a more detailed flowchart diagram of one embodiment of screening embryonic chicks disclosed by the present application.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION


A. Definitions.



[0013] With reference to the use of the word(s) "comprise" or "comprises" or "comprising" in the following description and claims, unless the context requires otherwise, those words are used on the basis and clear understanding that they are to be interpreted inclusively, rather than exclusively, and that each of those words is to be so interpreted.

[0014] The term "about" as used herein refers to a value that may vary within the range of expected error inherent in typical measurement techniques known in the art.

[0015] The term "storage device" as used herein refers to a machine-readable device that retains data that can be read by mechanical, optical, or electronic means, for example by a computer. Such devices are sometimes referred to as "memory," although as used herein a machine-readable data storage device cannot comprise a human mind in whole or in part, including human memory. A storage device may be classified as primary, secondary, tertiary, or off-line storage. Examples of a storage device that is primary storage include the register of a central processing unit, the cache of a central processing unit, and random-access memory (RAM) that is accessible to a central processing unit via a memory bus (generally comprising an address bus and a data bus). Primary storage is generally volatile memory, which has the advantage of being rapidly accessible. A storage device that is secondary storage is not directly accessible to the central processing unit, but is accessible to the central processing unit via an input/output channel. Examples of a storage device that is secondary storage include a mass storage device, such as a magnetic hard disk, an optical disk, a drum drive, flash memory, a floppy disk, a magnetic tape, an optical tape, a paper tape, and a plurality of punch cards. A storage device that is tertiary storage is not connected to the central processing unit until it is needed, generally accessed robotically. Examples of a storage device that is tertiary storage may be any storage device that is suitable for secondary storage, but configured such that it is not constantly connected to the central processing unit. A storage device that is off-line storage is not connected to the central processing unit, and does not become so connected without human intervention. Examples of a storage device that is off-line storage may be any storage device that is suitable for secondary storage, but configured such that it is not constantly connected to the central processing unit, and does not become so connected without human intervention. Secondary, tertiary, and offline storage are generally non-volatile, which has the advantage of requiring no source of electrical current to maintain the recorded information. A storage device cannot be construed to be a mere signal, although information may be communicated to and from a storage device via a signal.

[0016] The term "processor" or "central processing unit" (CPU) as used herein refers to a software execution device capable of executing a sequence of instructions ("program"). The CPU comprises an arithmetic logic unit, and may further comprise one or both of a register and cache memory.

[0017] The term "machine-readable format" as used herein refers to a medium of storing information that is configured to be read by a machine or processor. Such formats include magnetic media, optical media, and paper media (punch cards, paper tape, etc.). Printed writing in a human language, if not intended or configured to be read by a machine, is not considered a machine readable format. In no case shall a human mind be construed as "machine readable format."

[0018] The term "database" as used herein refers to an organized data structure comprising a plurality of records stored in machine-readable format.

B. Methods/Processes.



[0019] The present application provides a method of screening avian embryo feather color (pre-hatching) and determining the sex of the avian embryo, based at least in part, on the feather color or the color of feather precursors. In one embodiment, the present application provides a method for the pre-hatch screening of chick sex.

[0020] As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, determining the sex of the chick embryo allows for the better utilization of resources in that the less desirable male embryos can be separated and the more desirable female embryos can continue incubation until hatching.

[0021] The method comprises the steps of: (i) obtaining a chicken egg; (ii) exposing the chicken egg to, or contacting the chicken egg with, electromagnetic radiation emitted from an electromagnetic radiation source; (iii) determining the amount of absorption, diffusion, refraction, reflection or a combination of any of the forgoing, of the electromagnetic radiation by the chicken egg by using an imaging system; (iv) comparing the absorption, diffusion, refraction, reflection or a combination of any of the forgoing of the electromagnetic radiation by the chicken egg to a database; and (v) determining the sex of the chick embryo in the chicken egg, at least in part, as a result of the comparing step.

1. Obtaining the chicken egg



[0022] The chicken egg is an egg that is believed to be fertilized or that is known to be fertilized and may have been incubated for a period of time after laying. In an alternate embodiment, the egg has been incubated for about 7-13 days before being screened. In another embodiment, the egg has being incubated for about 9-11 days before being screened. In yet another alternate embodiment, the egg has been incubated for about 10 days before being screened. The egg may be incubated under appropriate conditions for sufficient or optimal embryonic growth and is well known in the industry. In one embodiment the eggs may be incubated at about 37.6 degrees Celsius and in about 56-62% relative humidity for the first eighteen (18) days of incubation and at about 37.4 degrees Celsius and in about 70-83% relative humidity for the last three (3) days of incubation. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that incubation conditions of an egg may vary slightly over time, from breed-to-breed and between species. Such known incubation conditions and variations should be considered within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0023] The chicken egg is obtained from a breed of chicken that produces feather color differentiation in chicks based upon the sex of the chick. For example, in one embodiment, the chicken may produce female chicks with brown feathers while male chicks have white feathers, or vice versa. In one embodiment, the chicken lines used as breeding stock ("Parent Stock") differ at a sex-linked genetic marker locus conferring brown feathering in the male line and white feathering in the female line. When a Parent Stock cross is made involving males of the brown line and females of the white line, the commercial generation progeny may be sexed by the resulting color differentiation, the females being brown and the males white. Other genetic markers may be available in different breeds or species. These other genetic markers which produce sex linked differences in gene expression or sex-limited gene expression may be used in accordance with the method disclosed herein.

2. Exposing the chicken egg to, or contacting the chicken egg with, electromagnetic radiation.



[0024] The method comprises contacting the chicken egg with, or exposing the chicken egg to, electromagnetic radiation. The electromagnetic radiation is typically created from the emission and propagation of electromagnetic waves. In one embodiment, the electromagnetic radiation ranges a spectrum of wavelengths from about 10-11 meters to about 103 meters. The electromagnetic radiation may be emitted from any suitable electromagnetic radiation source. In one embodiment, the electromagnetic radiation source is a light bulb, such as a tungsten-halogen light bulb (though any other light source capable of producing the desired wavelength of electromagnetic radiation can be used). Emission sources of electromagnetic radiation are well known in the art and those of ordinary skill in the art could select the appropriate emission source based upon the desired wavelength(s) of electromagnetic radiation to be used and such known emission sources should be considered within the scope of this disclosure.

[0025] In one embodiment, the emission source may comprise part of an hyperspectral imaging system (described in more detail below) such as the systems disclosed by K. C. Lawrence et al., Int'l J. of Poultry Sci., 5(10): 964-969 (2006) or D.P. Smith et al., Int'l J. of Poultry Sci., 7(10): 1001-1004 (2008). In an alternate embodiment, emission source may comprise part of a commercially available hyperspectral imaging system, which may be used to determine an average value av as discussed herein.

[0026] In one embodiment, only one emission source may be used. The emission source may be placed at various angles relative to the egg being screened. In one embodiment, the single emission source may be placed anywhere on a three hundred and sixty (360) degree circle that surrounds the egg being screened. In one embodiment, the emission source may be stationary at a ninety (90) degree angle relative to the chicken egg (either directly to the side, above or below) while in an alternate embodiment the stationary emission source may be at a forty (45) degree angle to the chicken egg. Of course, a number of emission source locations at various positions relative to the egg being screened could be used to obtain the desired exposure to, or contact with, the electromagnetic radiation. In an alternate embodiment, the single emission source may be adapted to be moveable relative to the chicken egg such that the single emission source may be adapted to be moved by a robotic arm or other processor controlled means. Additionally, in other embodiments, the chicken egg may be moved while the single emission source remains stationary. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that there are many methods and devices capable of moving the single emission source or the egg relative to one another, and such methods and devices should be considered within the scope of this disclosure. In one embodiment, the single emission source may be used to generate several images of the egg from different angles.

[0027] In an alternate embodiment, there may be a plurality of emission sources used. In an embodiment where there are a plurality of emission sources, the emission sources may be placed anywhere on a three hundred and sixty (360) degree circle that surrounds the egg being screened. In one embodiment, the one emission source may be located at a ninety (90) degree angle relative to the chicken egg (either directly to the side, above or below) while a second emission source may be at a forty (45) degree angle to the chicken egg. Of course, a number of emission sources located at various positions relative to the egg being screened could be used to obtain the desired exposure to, or contact with, the electromagnetic radiation. In an alternate embodiment, the plurality of emission sources may be adapted to be moveable relative to the chicken egg such that the emission sources may be adapted to be moved by a robotic arm or other processor controlled means. Additionally, in other embodiments, the chicken egg may be moved while the emission sources remain stationary. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that there are many methods and devices capable of moving the emission sources or the egg relative to one another, and such methods and devices should be considered within the scope of this disclosure.

[0028] In one embodiment, the electromagnetic radiation comprises a wavelength of between about 10 nm and about 1,000 nm.

3. Determining the amount of absorption, diffusion or refraction of the electromagnetic radiation by the chicken egg.



[0029] After the chicken egg is contacted with, or exposed to, the electromagnetic radiation, a certain amount of the electromagnetic radiation will either be absorbed, diffused, reflected or refracted (or perhaps a combination of any of the forgoing) by the egg and the contents inside of the egg.

[0030] In one embodiment, the absorption of the electromagnetic radiation may be determined by employing devices and methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

[0031] In one embodiment, the diffusion of the electromagnetic radiation may be determined by employing devices and methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

[0032] In one embodiment, the reflection of the electromagnetic radiation may be determined by employing devices and methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

[0033] In one embodiment, the refraction of the electromagnetic radiation may be determined by employing devices and methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

[0034] In one embodiment, the absorption, diffusion, reflection, refraction, or a combination of any or all of the forgoing, of the electromagnetic radiation is used to determine, at least in part, chick sex.

[0035] In one further embodiment, the absorption, diffusion, reflection or refraction of the electromagnetic radiation is determined, at least in part, by the utilization of a spectrohotometric or hyperspectral imaging system, such as those that are known to one of ordinary skill in the art and those known imaging systems should be considered within the scope of this disclosure. In one embodiment, the spectrohotometric imaging system comprises a camera (or other device), which captures or records the spectral and/or spatial images of the chicken eggs, any necessary lenses and a processor. In one embodiment, the absorption, diffusion, reflection or refraction of the electromagnetic radiation of the egg may be determined using a hyperspectral imaging system such as the systems disclosed by K. C. Lawrence et al., infra or D.P. Smith et al., infra. In an alternate embodiment, the camera may be a Verde Hyperspectral Camera available from Horiba Scientific.

[0036] After capturing or recording the image, the image may be acted upon, or read by, a processor and in some embodiments, an associated storage device, to determine a value v that corresponds, at least in part, to the absorption, diffusion, reflection or refraction (or a combination of any of the forgoing) of electromagnetic radiation by the egg. This value v may be determined by any method known to one of ordinary skill in the art and such methods of determination should be considered within the scope of this disclosure. The value v may be determined by calculating the percentage of absorption of the electromagnetic radiation (of one or a plurality of wavelengths) of the egg being screened. In one embodiment, calculation of value v may be improved during the practice of the method through incorporating results from post-hatch confirmation of the egg being screened. The value v will be influenced, at least in part, by the presence or absence of brown feathers, feather precursors or pigments in either of the forgoing on the embryonic chick. In particular a female embryonic chick with brown feathers, feather precursors, and/or pigments will produce a different value v than a male embryonic chick without brown feathers, feather precursors or pigments (and vice versa) in cither of the forgoing.

[0037] In some embodiments, the value v may be determined by capturing or recording only one image of the egg, while in other embodiments a plurality of images of the egg may be captured or recorded. In some embodiments, the images to be captured or recorded may be generated from a single electromagnetic radiation source while in other embodiments a plurality of emission sources may be used. It is believed that capturing or recording multiple images of an egg may reduce background noise or other issues that reduce the quality of one image and therefore that a plurality images may be desirable. In the embodiment where a plurality of images for an egg are captured or recorded, an average value av may be calculated by a processor by calculating the average of all values v associated with each image of the egg and in other embodiments, statistical analysis may be employed by the processor to ignore certain outlier values v.

4. Comparing the absorption, diffusion, refraction of the forgoing of the electromagnetic radiation by the chicken egg to a database and determining the sex of the chick embryo in the chicken egg as a result of the comparing step.



[0038] In some embodiments, after the value v or the average value av for a particular egg is determined, value v or the average value av may be compared by a processor, and possibly an associated storage device, to a database comprising one or more standard values sv. In one embodiment, the standard values sv may have been previously determined through gathering data concerning the absorption, diffusion, reflection or refraction of electromagnetic radiation by a population of eggs and correlating that data to chick sex after hatching. In one embodiment value v, average value av and standard value sv may be a range rather than an exact number. For examples, an average value av in a certain range may correlate to a determination that the egg being screened comprises a male embryo. After the value v or the average value av is compared to the standard value sv to determine whether the embryonic chick is male or female, based upon, at least in part, the presence or absence of brown feathers, feather precursors or pigment.

[0039] Once embryonic sex is determined, the female embryos may be allowed to continue incubating until hatching while the male embryos may be separated for other uses or culled.

[0040] In other embodiments, the methods disclosed herein may be useful for sexing pre-hatched avian embryos of other species, including but not limited to turkeys and ducks.


Claims

1. A method of sexing embryonic chicks, the method comprising the steps of:

a. exposing a chicken egg to, or contacting the chicken egg with, electromagnetic radiation emitted from an electromagnetic radiation source,
wherein the chicken egg is obtained from a breed of chicken that produces feather color differentiation in chicks based upon the sex of the chick;

b. determining the amount of absorption, diffusion, refraction, reflection, or a combination of any of the forgoing, of the electromagnetic radiation by the chicken egg, wherein the amount of absorption, diffusion, refraction, reflection, or a combination of any of the forgoing, of the electromagnetic radiation by the chicken egg is at least in part determined by the visible color of the contents of the chicken egg;

c. comparing the absorption, diffusion, refraction, reflection or a combination of any of the forgoing of the electromagnetic radiation by the chicken egg to a database; and

d. determining the sex of the chick embryo in the chicken egg, at least in part, as a result of the comparing step, wherein determining the sex of the embryo is based at least in part on the feather color or the color of feather precursors.


 
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the chicken egg has been incubated for a period of time about 9-15 days after laying.
 
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic radiation comprises a wave length of between about 10 nm and about 1,000 nm.
 
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic radiation comprises a wave length of between about 380 nm and 740 nm.
 
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic radiation comprises a plurality of wavelengths from about 10 nm to 1,000 nm.
 
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of electromagnetic radiation sources, wherein each electromagnetic radiation source is placed in a unique position relative the chicken egg.
 
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the absorption, diffusion, refraction, reflection, or a combination of any of the forgoing, of the electromagnetic radiation by the chicken egg is determined, at least in part, by the presence or absence of brown feathers or feather precursors on the chicken embryo inside of the chicken egg.
 
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of absorption, diffusion, refraction, reflection, or a combination of any of the forgoing, of the electromagnetic radiation by the chicken egg is determined using a hyperspectral imaging system.
 
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of absorption, diffusion, refraction, reflection, or a combination of any of the forgoing, of the electromagnetic radiation by the chicken egg is determined by capturing multiple images of the chicken egg and averaging the amount of absorption, diffusion, refraction, reflection, or a combination of any of the forgoing, indicated by each image.
 


Ansprüche

1. Verfahren zur Bestimmung des Geschlechts embryonaler Küken, wobei das Verfahren die Schritte umfasst:

a. Aussetzen eines Hühnereies gegenüber elektromagnetischer Strahlung oder Kontaktieren des Hühnereies mit elektromagnetischer Strahlung, die aus einer Quelle für elektromagnetische Strahlung emittiert wird,
wobei das Hühnerei von einer Hühnerrasse erhalten ist, die basierend auf dem Geschlecht des Kükens eine Federfarbendifferenzierung in Küken hervorruft;

b. Bestimmen der Menge an Absorption, Diffusion, Brechung, Reflexion oder einer beliebigen Kombination dieser der elektromagnetischen Strahlung durch das Hühnerei, wobei das Ausmaß der Absorption, Diffusion, Brechung, Reflexion oder einer beliebigen Kombination dieser der elektromagnetischen Strahlung durch das Hühnerei zumindest teilweise durch die sichtbare Farbe des Inhalts des Hühnereies bestimmt wird;

c. Vergleichen der Absorption, Diffusion, Brechung, Reflexion oder einer beliebigen Kombination dieser der elektromagnetischen Strahlung durch das Hühnerei mit einer Datenbank; und

d. Bestimmen des Geschlechts des Kükenembryos in dem Hühnerei zumindest teilweise als Ergebnis des Vergleichsschritts, wobei die Geschlechtsbestimmung des Embryos zumindest teilweise auf der Federfarbe oder der Farbe von Federvorstufen basiert.


 
2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Hühnerei für einen Zeitraum von etwa 9-15 Tagen nach dem Legen inkubiert wurde.
 
3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei die elektromagnetische Strahlung eine Wellenlänge von zwischen etwa 10 nm und etwa 1.000 nm aufweist.
 
4. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei die elektromagnetische Strahlung eine Wellenlänge von zwischen etwa 380 nm und 740 nm aufweist.
 
5. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei die elektromagnetische Strahlung eine Vielzahl von Wellenlängen von etwa 10 nm bis 1.000 nm aufweist.
 
6. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, weiterhin umfassend eine Vielzahl von Quellen elektromagnetischer Strahlung, wobei jede Quelle elektromagnetischer Strahlung in einer einzigartigen Position relativ zu dem Hühnerei platziert wird.
 
7. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Absorption, Diffusion, Brechung, Reflexion oder eine beliebige Kombination dieser der elektromagnetischen Strahlung durch das Hühnerei zumindest teilweise durch das Vorhandensein oder Fehlen von braunen Federn oder Federvorstufen bestimmt wird.
 
8. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Ausmaß der Absorption, Diffusion, Brechung, Reflexion oder einer beliebigen Kombination dieser der elektromagnetischen Strahlung durch das Hühnerei unter Verwendung eines hyperspektralen Bildgebungssystems bestimmt wird.
 
9. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Ausmaß der Absorption, Diffusion, Brechung, Reflexion oder einer beliebigen Kombination dieser der elektromagnetischen Strahlung durch das Hühnerei bestimmt wird, indem mehrere Bilder des Hühnereies aufgenommen und das Ausmaß an Absorption, Diffusion, Brechung, Reflexion oder einer beliebigen Kombination dieser, die durch jedes Bild angezeigt wird, gemittelt werden.
 


Revendications

1. Procédé de sexage de poussins embryonnaires, le procédé comprenant les étapes suivantes :

a. exposition d'un œuf de poule à, ou mise en contact de l'œuf de poule avec, un rayonnement électromagnétique émis depuis une source de rayonnement électromagnétique,
dans lequel l'œuf de poule est obtenu d'une race de poulet qui produit une différenciation de couleur de plumes chez les poussins sur la base du sexe du poussin ;

b. la détermination de la quantité d'absorption, de diffusion, de réfraction, de réflexion, ou d'une combinaison quelconque de celles-ci, du rayonnement électromagnétique par l'œuf de poule, dans lequel la quantité d'absorption, de diffusion, de réfraction, de réflexion, ou d'une combinaison quelconque de celles-ci, du rayonnement électromagnétique par l'œuf de poule est au moins en partie déterminée par la couleur visible des contenus de l'œuf de poule ;

c. la comparaison de l'absorption, de la diffusion, de la réfraction, de la réflexion, ou d'une combinaison quelconque de celles-ci du rayonnement électromagnétique par l'œuf de poule à une base de données ; et

d. la détermination du sexe de l'embryon de poussin dans l'œuf de poule, au moins en partie, en résultat de l'étape de comparaison, dans lequel la détermination du sexe de l'embryon est basée au moins en partie sur la couleur des plumes ou la couleur des précurseurs de plume.


 
2. Procédé selon la revendication 1 dans lequel l'œuf de poule a été incubé pendant une durée d'environ 9 à 15 jours après la ponte.
 
3. Procédé selon la revendication 1 dans lequel le rayonnement électromagnétique comprend une longueur d'onde comprise entre environ 10 nm et environ 1000 nm.
 
4. Procédé selon la revendication 1 dans lequel le rayonnement électromagnétique comprend une longueur d'onde comprise entre environ 380 nm et 740 nm.
 
5. Procédé selon la revendication 1 dans lequel le rayonnement électromagnétique comprend une pluralité de longueurs d'onde entre environ 10 nm et 1000 nm.
 
6. Procédé selon la revendication 1 comprenant en outre une pluralité de sources de rayonnement électromagnétique, dans lequel chaque source de rayonnement électromagnétique est placée dans une position unique par rapport à l'œuf de poule.
 
7. Procédé selon la revendication 1 dans lequel l'absorption, la diffusion, la réfraction, la réflexion, ou une combinaison quelconque de celles-ci, du rayonnement électromagnétique par l'œuf de poule est déterminée, au moins en partie, par la présence ou l'absence de plumes marron ou de précurseurs de plumes sur l'embryon de poulet à l'intérieur de l'œuf de poule.
 
8. Procédé selon la revendication 1 dans lequel la quantité d'absorption, de diffusion, de réfraction, de réflexion, ou d'une combinaison quelconque de celles-ci, du rayonnement électromagnétique par l'œuf de poule est déterminée en utilisant un système d'imagerie hyperspectrale.
 
9. Procédé selon la revendication 1 dans lequel la quantité d'absorption, de diffusion, de réfraction, de réflexion, ou d'une combinaison quelconque de celles-ci, du rayonnement électromagnétique par l'œuf de poule est déterminée par capture de multiples images de l'œuf de poule et établissement de la moyenne de la quantité d'absorption, de diffusion, de réfraction, de réflexion, ou d'une combinaison quelconque de celles-ci, indiquée par chaque image.
 




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Cited references

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



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