First installation in Asia-Pacific goes live at SBA’s Victoria hatchery – orders for sexed chicks now open; official launch event to take place at PIX Food with Purpose Show in the Gold Coast during May 2026.
Victoria Australia – May 2026 – Agri Advanced Technologies (AAT) and Specialised Breeders Australia (SBA) today announced the official launch of the Cheggy in-ovo sex determination system in the Australian market. With the first Cheggy machine now fully installed and operational at SBA’s hatchery in Victoria, Australian Egg Producers can, for the first time, order chicks whose sex has been identified before hatching. The companies will jointly present the technology to the wider industry at the PIX Food with Purpose Show in the Gold Coast, QLD, during May 2026.
Cheggy is the world’s leading non-invasive in-ovo sexing solution for brown layer breeds. Using advanced hyperspectral analysis, the system determines the sex of a developing chick at an early stage during development without opening the egg or compromising embryo health. This breakthrough enables hatcheries to plan production more efficiently while supporting emerging welfare, sustainability, and transparency standards across the poultry supply chain.
“We are excited to bring Cheggy to Australia and to support a growing industry focus on animal welfare and resource efficiency,” said Jörg Hurlin, Managing Director of Agri Advanced Technologies. “Cheggy combines high accuracy, speed, and operational reliability, making it an ideal solution for the Australian market as producers look for scalable and economically sustainable approaches to early-stage chick management.”
With the system now running in Victoria, SBA becomes the first hatchery in Australia to offer commercially available in-ovo sexed chicks. In addition, the new in-ovo sexing technology in the SBA hatchery was certified by a well-known independent nonprofit organization Humane Farm Animal Care to ensure animal welfare in a traceable and documented manner.
A technology designed for modern egg production
Cheggy delivers high-speed, high-volume processing while integrating easily into existing hatchery workflows. As a fully non-invasive procedure, the technology mitigates contamination risks and ensures the safety of the embryo throughout the measurement and sorting process.
Additional advantages include:
- High throughput of 20,000 eggs per hour – capable of processing large volumes suitable for commercial hatcheries.
- Cost-efficient operation – no consumables, no single-use waste, and minimal maintenance requirements.
- Compact footprint – a small spatial requirement for easy integration into hatcheries of varying sizes.
- Improved sustainability – enabling early selection helps the industry address long-standing challenges related to male chicks in layer production.
The adoption of in-ovo sexing technologies is expanding globally as markets transition toward higher welfare standards and greater transparency. With installations already operating across Europe, North America, and South America, the Australian launch marks another step in AAT’s international growth strategy.
AAT and SBA will be present at the PIX Food with Purpose Show in the Gold Coast, QLD, in May 2026 to share information about CHEGGY, provide technical insights and respond to questions the attendees might have.
Source: Agri Advanced Technologies (AAT) press release
