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Every year in Europe alone about 330 million male chicks are killed directly after hatching during egg production. This is because cockerels don’t lay eggs and they gain less flesh than typical broiler races. Chick culling is a worldwide phenomenon that poses an ethical dilemma for society. At respeggt, we have been researching this phenomenon for many years, seeking solutions that put an end to chick culling. And we have found those solutions. We are now able to avoid chick culling by using two different processes, both of which fulfil our high respeggt requirements. When you see the respeggt label “Free of Chick Culling” on egg boxes and foodstuffs, you can be sure that one of these two processes has been applied.
Since we control the complete supply chain from the hatchery to the packing centre, you can simply check our website to see both whether your eggs really come from a respeggt laying hen and which solution has been applied to avoid chick culling.
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The heart-shaped respeggt label is our promise: “Free of Chick Culling”. Since we control the complete supply chain, we can guarantee that all those products bearing the respeggt label fulfil our high respeggt requirements.
By using modern blockchain technologies that transmit data sets transparently and in a tamper-proof manner, we can ensure that all the principles of our respeggt promise are respected throughout the supply chain. You can easily detect respeggt eggs that bear our heart-shaped respeggt label and be completely sure that no chicks were killed during their production.
Typically, foodstuffs are only controlled by certified regulators at the specific levels of the supply chain that correspond to the product promise of the respective producer. In contrast, blockchain technology provides a neutral platform that makes it possible to control the supply chain right from the beginning, thus ensuring that each step is transparent and traceable. Thanks to this technology, we can easily verify respeggt eggs. All members of the supply chain are obliged to enter specific data relating to the chicks, laying hens or respeggt eggs at previously determined times. This decentralized data is automatically encrypted. The system immediately detects any anomalies in the verification process and automatically informs both the upstream and downstream members in the supply chain. Misconduct or even fraud lead to an immediate stop in the supply chain at the affected level and sanctions may be imposed. Through increased transparency, this process provides a tamper-proof guarantee for our promise.
At respeggt, we aim to substantially contribute to ending chick culling. Currently, there are two processes to achieve this: gender identification in the hatching egg and the fattening of so-called male layer chicks. You can learn more about these two processes by clicking on the respective buttons below:
By using the patented SELEGGT process, respeggt can prevent the hatching of male chicks, thus saving them from an ethically questionable fate. This process is based on endocrinological gender identification in the hatching egg, where hormones are used to determine whether a hatching egg is male or female. Learn more about how the SELEGGT process works in the following video.
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On the ninth day of the incubation process, a small drop of liquid is extracted from the eggs. This is a non-invasive procedure, meaning that the inner part of the hatching egg is not affected and is therefore left unharmed.
The drop of liquid extracted from the hatching egg is analysed using a patented marker. A distinctive colour change in the sample immediately indicates whether the hatching egg is male or female.
According to the result of this test, the eggs are sorted into male and female eggs. The male eggs are then used to produce high-quality animal feed that is an important component of feed recipes for farm animals.
The female eggs continue incubation until the chicks hatch. As a result, only female chicks hatch after the 21 days of incubation. They will then become laying hens for respeggt eggs.
Gender identification in the hatching egg using the SELEGGT process is a unique, patented process for endocrinological gender identification in the hatching egg that was developed by SELEGGT GmbH. This process was developed from ground research carried out by scientists at the University of Leipzig.
The fattening of respeggt male layer chicks (also called layer brothers or laying hen brothers) means that the male chicks of the respeggt laying hens are hatched and raised along with the female chicks. This type of rearing takes more than twice as long as the comparable fattening of conventional broiler races.
These requirements are the only way to ensure animal-friendly rearing and provide our respeggt guarantee that the eggs are “Free of Chick Culling”. Female respeggt chicks are raised to become respeggt laying hens that will later on hatch respeggt eggs.
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Since our respeggt processes are suitable for both small and large hatcheries, no chicks need to be killed during egg production. Supermarkets and discounters offer eggs in many different forms. Regardless of whether they are sold as fresh eggs or in egg products like noodles, cakes or biscuits, any foodstuff that contains respeggt eggs may be marked with the heart-shaped respeggt label. Thanks to this label, we contribute in yet another way to ending chick culling. All foodstuffs that bear the respeggt label represent a more ethical and transparent supply chain in egg production. With the help of our respeggt label, you can easily find these foodstuffs in the supermarket.
Available in all REWE supermarkets
Available in selected COOP supermarkets
Available in selected REWE and MARKTKAUF supermarkets in the Münster/Hamm region and at the laying hen farm
Available in selected REWE supermarkets in the Berlin region and at the laying hen farm
Available in selected Kaufland and Combi supermarkets in the Grafschaft Bentheim region and at the laying hen farm
Available in all JUMBO supermarkets
Available in selected Kaufland and Combi supermarkets in the Grafschaft Bentheim region and at the laying hen farm
Available in selected Hoogvliet supermarkets
Available in selected EDEKA, MARKTKAUF and famila supermarkets in the Weser-Ems region and at the laying hen farm
Available in selected MIGROS supermarkets
Available in selected Carrefour supermarkets
Available in all JUMBO supermarkets
Available in selected DEEN supermarkets
Available in selected Carrefour supermarkets
Available in selected Carrefour supermarkets
Available in selected EDEKA, MARKTKAUF and famila supermarkets in the Weser-Ems region and at the laying hen farm
Available in selected REWE supermarkets in Rhineland-Palatinate and at the laying hen farm
Available in selected REWE supermarkets in Rhineland-Palatinate and at the laying hen farm
Available in selected EDEKA supermarkets in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate and at the laying hen farm
Available in all PENNY supermarkets
Available in selected REWE supermarkets in Rhineland-Palatinate and at the laying hen farm
Available in selected EDEKA, MARKTKAUF and famila supermarkets in the Weser-Ems region and at the laying hen farm
Available in selected REWE supermarkets
Available in selected REWE supermarkets
Available in all REWE supermarkets
Available in all REWE supermarkets
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The company behind the respeggt promise.
“Free of Chick Culling” is what we promise at respeggt GmbH, headquartered in both Germany and the Netherlands. We are an international team with expertise in the agricultural sciences, agricultural engineering, the economic sciences and IT and are passionate about our work. Together with our partners, we aim to put an end to male chick culling. This has been made possible by using different processes. Since 2019 we have provided the framework for gender identification in the hatching egg and for male layer chick fattening, and we also ensure maximum transparency and control along the supply chain by giving the guarantee “Free of Chick Culling”.
Through our heart-shaped respeggt label on packaging, you can easily find products with our promise: “Free of Chick Culling”.
For further information on respeggt GmbH and its services:
www.respeggt-group.com
Thank you for your support of the hatcheries and laying hen farms that have committed themselves to responsible egg production. We are pleased you share our interest in ending chick culling and saving male chicks from an ethically questionable fate!
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or comments.
For consumers:
info@respeggt.com
For journalists:
presse@respeggt.com