France: Elimination of male chicks in the laying hen sector completed

The end of grinding male chicks is materializing thanks to state support for innovation in hatcheries and solidarity in funding. On the occasion of the information day of the CNPO (National Committee for the Promotion of Eggs), Marc Fesneau, the French Minister of Agriculture, confirmed the commitment of the state, together with the industry, to implement this ban by 1 January. Since the decree was published, the ministry has worked with the CNPO to identify and implement technical and financial solutions to support professionals in this important change. The hatcheries have thus made significant investments in record time and the installation of the necessary equipment is nearing completion. This major change will entail annual costs for the French egg sector estimated at €50 million. The state has supported hatcheries with €10.5 million to introduce new ovosexing techniques to determine the sex of embryos in eggs. The interprofessional agreement will therefore allow the costs of ...