TIP, DOST developing alternative method to identify sex of ducklings

Researchers are developing a more ethical and resource-efficient method to determine the sex of ducklings before hatching.

The Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) and the Department of Science and Technology—Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) are working on EGGIOTYPE, which offers a non-invasive way to determine the sex of the duck embryo using advanced technologies without breaking the eggshell or interfering with its growth.

“This alternative reduces the possibility of wasted resources and additional costs. It also increases efficiency in hatcheries, as farmers can make informed decisions from the get-go,” TIP said in a statement.

Vent sexing is a common method for determining the sex of ducklings in many farms in the Philippines, which is done by manually inspecting its cloaca or opening after hatching.

TIP said that newly hatched ducklings frequently experience stress as a result of vent sexing.

''Once sorted, farmers check the number of males and females, aiming for one male for every seven females. When there are too many males, they are usually culled to maintain this ratio. While this practice is widely accepted in the industry, it continues to raise ethical concerns related to animal welfare,'' TIP said.

With EGGIOTYPE, TIP said the excess male ducklings are saved from culling and instead repurposed into becoming balut or utilized for animal feed and other agricultural applications.

EGGIOTYPE is a TIP Technopreneurship and Collaboration Applied Research (TechnoCoRe) innovation.

Started in 2024, the EGGIOTYPE project is in the advanced research and development stage, which involves technology testing and validation activities to evaluate system accuracy, reliability, and readiness for real-world application. 

''TIP TechnoCoRe is in constant collaboration with ItikPINAS breeder farms from Luzon and Mindanao to validate the practicality of the technology and to ensure it remains aligned with the needs of the industry,'' it said. —VBL, GMA Integrated News