Abstract
Recognition and separation of newly hatched broiler chicks by sex require intensive human labor in hatcheryoperations. Segregation of chicks by gender and grow-out in gender specific management schemes offer significantbenefits to the broiler industry. In this manuscript, methods for automated sex separation using spectral imaging andpattern recognition are presented. A UV optical system was developed to distinguish chick feathers from down of the samecolor, and to extract the feather sex feature characteristics from baby chick wings. To recognize sexes by analyzing featherpatterns, blob analysis and curve fitting methods were developed. The result showed a distinct contrast between feathersand down by the optical system, which produced clear signals for image processing and automated feather classification.The curve fitting method yielded a correct classification rate of 93% for female chicks and 94% for male chicks based ona test of 104 baby chicks. The imaging techniques presented in this article serve as a step forward to the development ofan automated baby chick sex recognition system, which will result in enhanced worker welfare, labor savings, and feedconversion and production efficiency.
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