Abstract: An apparatus for classifying a plurality of poultry eggs includes means for detecting the opacities of the eggs, means for detecting the temperatures of the eggs, and means for classifying the eggs using the opacities and the temperatures of the eggs. A method for classifying poultry eggs includes measuring the opacities of the eggs, measuring the temperatures of the eggs, and classifying the eggs as a function of the opacities and the temperatures of the eggs.

Abstract: An egg removal apparatus includes a frame and a manifold removably secured to the frame. The frame is movable from a first location overlying an egg flat to a second location overlying an area adjacent the egg flat. When the frame is in the first location, eggs from an egg flat are picked up under vacuum via a plurality of flexible cups. When the frame is in the second position, the eggs are released from the plurality of flexible cups. The removable manifold can be quickly and easily removed from a supporting frame and cleaned as a unit.

Abstract: An egg removal apparatus includes a frame-and a manifold removably secured to the frame. The frame is movable from a first location overlying an egg flat to a second location overlying an area adjacent the egg flat. When the frame is in the first location, eggs from an egg flat are picked up under vacuum via a plurality of flexible cups. When the frame is in the second position, the eggs are released from the plurality of flexible cups. The removable manifold can be quickly and easily removed from a supporting frame and cleaned as a unit.

Abstract: Methods of pooling or localizing the allantoic fluid present in avian shell eggs, so that the fluid may be sampled, assessed or injected, are described. The methods involve tilting the avian shell egg so that the major axis of the egg is from about 10 to 180 degrees from the vertically upright position, so that the allantois pools under the uppermost portion of the egg shell. The allantoic fluid may then be sampled, or a substance injected into the allantois, by a vertical needle or probe traveling in a downward direction.

Abstract: An egg removal apparatus includes a frame and a manifold removably secured to the frame. The frame is movable from a first location overlying an egg flat to a second location overlying an area adjacent the egg flat. When the frame is in the first location, eggs from an egg flat are picked up under vacuum via a plurality of flexible cups. When the frame is in the second position, the eggs are released from the plurality of flexible cups. The removable manifold can be quickly and easily removed from a supporting frame and cleaned as a unit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for removing clear avian eggs from a moving egg flat without contacting the removed eggs and without contaminating the eggs remaining within the egg flat. Clear eggs are identified by passing an egg flat between respective pairs of light sources and light detectors and detecting the amount of light that passes through each egg. Clear eggs are then ejected from the moving egg flat into a stationary receptacle located above the moving egg flat by applying a first stream of air to the lower end of the clear egg. A second stream of air may also be applied to the egg after the egg has been lifted from the egg flat by the first stream of air. This second stream of air is applied to the egg along a direction substantially transverse to the first stream of air. A third stream of air may be utilized to dislodge an egg from a stuck condition prior to being ejected from the egg flat.

Abstract: A multi-site in ovo injection apparatus and related methods for treating live eggs is disclosed. The multi-site injection apparatus includes one or more injection delivery devices which are configured to deliver multiple treatment substances to predetermined areas of eggs. The treatment substances can be provided so that they are spatially and/or temporally separate. The devices and methods enable the effective use of a plurality of treatment substances even those that are effective when used alone but can be noxious if mixed.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump for precision metering of small quantities of fluid through a plurality of flow lines has a plurality of flexible liquid transfer tubes disposed between a set of tube rollers and an arcuate backing plate. The tube rollers are mounted on a roller support which is rotated about a central axis and causes the tube rollers to roll successively along the tubes, compressing the tubes against the arcuate surface of the backing plate and causing the fluid contained within the tubes to flow progressively in the direction of roller movement. The tube rollers are individually gear driven and turn at a rate which provides a roller surface speed equal to the rate of movement along the tubes, thereby eliminating any frictional drag along the tubes. The flexible tubes are mounted on the pump housing under uniform controlled tension to assure that each tube dispenses fluid at an equal rate.

Abstract: A method for distinguishing live from dead poultry eggs comprises: (a) providing a light source (preferably an infrared light source) and a light detector in opposite facing relation to one another; (b) passing an egg between the light source and light detector; (c) switching the light source at a frequency greater than 100 cycles per second while passing the egg between the light source and the light detector; and (d) detecting light that passes through the egg from the light source with the light detector. Preferably, the egg is passed between the light source and the light detector without making contact therewith. And the method preferably further comprises the step of electronically filtering the signal detected by the light detector to distinguish light emitted from the light source from ambient light. Steps (b) through (d) may be repeated at a rate of at least one egg per second. Apparatus for carrying out the foregoing method is also provided.

Abstract: A method of producing active immunity against a viral disease in an animal subject comprises administering to the subject a vaccine conjugate consisting essentially of a live virus and a neutralizing factor bound to the live virus. The neutralizing factor is selected from the group consisting of antibodies and antibody fragments. The live virus is one capable of producing disease in the subject, and the antibody or antibody fragment is one capable of neutralizing the live virus. Preferred subjects are birds, a preferred virus is Infectious Bursal Disease Virus, and a preferred route of administration to birds is by in ovo administration.

Abstract: A method has been developed for the injection of muscle tissue of an embryonic chicken in ovo. An apparatus for such injection in a plurality of eggs simultaneously has also been developed, where the apparatus is composed of a an engaging means for the eggs, an injection means to insert an elongate needle through the eggshell to a depth of about 7/8 inch to 1.5 inch into the shoulder or breast of the embryo, and a positioning means to position the needle about 1 to 5 degrees of offset of the long axis of the egg. The apparatus can delivery a variety of substances to the muscle tissue of the embryonic chicken in ovo.

Abstract: A method for distinguishing live from dead poultry eggs comprises: (a) providing a light source (preferably an infrared light source) and a light detector in opposite facing relation to one another; (b) passing an egg between the light source and light detector; (c) switching the light source at a frequency greater than 100 cycles per second while passing the egg between the light source and the light detector; and (d) detecting light that passes through the egg from the light source with the light detector. Preferably, the egg is passed between the light source and the light detector without making contact therewith. And the method preferably further comprises the step of electronically filtering the signal detected by the light detector to distinguish light emitted from the light source from ambient light. Steps (b) through (d) may be repeated at a rate of at least one egg per second. Apparatus for carrying out the foregoing method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of introducing a beneficial material into the allantois of an avian egg through the shell thereof comprises the steps of orienting the egg to maximize a target area of the allantoic sac and directing the injection device through the shell and into the target area. The egg may be oriented with a major axis at an angle from about 10 to 45 degrees from vertical thereby causing the allantois to pool and the allantoic sac to expand immediately below the air sac on the downward side of the egg with injection occurring vertically downward through the air sac or from an angle below the air sac. Alternatively, the egg may be vertically inverted with the large end of the egg in the bottom position thereby causing the allantois to pool immediately above the air sac with injection occurring upwardly through the air sac or laterally between the air sac and the amnion. The beneficial material may be an anti-bacteria, anti-viral, anti-microbial, vaccine, growth hormone or the like.

Abstract: A method of enhancing the growth of a bird is described. The method comprises (a) administering a compound selected from the group consisting of IGF-1, IGF-2 and active analogs thereof to a bird in ovo; then (b) incubating the bird to hatch; and then (c) growing the bird for at least three weeks after hatch. The compound is administered in ovo in an amount sufficient to enhance the growth of the bird at least three weeks after hatch. Preferred birds for practicing the present invention are chickens, and preferred compounds for practicing the present invention are IGF-1 and analogs thereof. The use of IGF-1, IGF-2 and active analogs thereof for the preparation of a medicament for administration to birds in ovo to ehance the growth of the bird at least three weeks after hatch is also disclosed, along with the pharmaceutical formulations so prepared.

Abstract: An apparatus for administering compounds to avian eggs through the shell thereof comprises a blocking member, an elongate shaft connected to the blocking member, an active agent depot connected to the elongate shaft, and an adhesive seal connected to the blocking member for sealably connecting the blocking member to the egg shell with the shaft penetrating through the shell. Methods of using the apparatus of the present invention are also described.

Abstract: A method of introducing a substance into a bird egg through the shell thereof comprises the steps of applying a seal to the exterior of the shell, inserting an injection device through the seal and into the egg, injecting the substance through the injection device and into the interior of the egg, and withdrawing the injection device from the egg through the seal. The method is particularly preferred for injecting substances into the albumin during the first quarter of injection through the bottom of the egg when the small end of the egg is oriented downward to prevent the introduction of air bubbles through the opening formed in the shell by the injection device.

Abstract: A sterilizing fluid passageway is defined by the annular space between a cylindrical injection needle and a surrounding cylindrical punch. A sterilizing fluid entry fitting allows the sterilizing fluid to be added to the passageway. In this manner, it will be understood that sterilizing fluid entering a fitting will travel through the passageway to clean the interior of a punch and an exterior of the needle. As an additional feature, however, the invention further comprises fluid exit openings that are adjacent to and partially above the lowermost portions of the punch, i.e., those portions that are most likely to enter an egg during injection. The openings permit a sterilizing fluid to travel from the entry fitting through the passageway and then to the exterior surface of the punch so that the sterilizing fluid sterilizes the passageway, the needle and both the interior and exterior portions of the punch that are most likely to enter an egg during injection.

Abstract: An injection apparatus that is particularly suitable for accurate and precise injection of eggs of varying sizes and that may be presented to the injection apparatus in somewhat different orientations. The injection apparatus comprises a generally horizontally oriented tooling plate with an opening therethrough, an injector resting generally vertically in the opening in the tooling plate with a lower portion of the injector depending downwardly below the tooling plate and an upper portion of the injector resting at or above the tooling plate. Means are included for raising and lowering the tooling plate and the injector therewith so that when the plate is lowered and the lower portion of the resting injector strikes an egg to be injected, the resting injector stops while the tooling plate proceeds downwardly until the injector disengages from the tooling plate and is free to move in a translational direction independent of said tooling plate.

Abstract: A method of causing an animal to gain weight by administering that animal a T-cell growth factor comprising Interleukin-2 (IL-2) in an amount effective to cause that animal to increase in weight is disclosed. A method of treating birds by administering birds in ovo avian IL-2 is also disclosed. The method is preferably carried out on chicken with 30K chicken IL-2 on about the eighteenth day of incubation. The method may be employed to increase the weight of treated birds after hatch. A vaccine may optionally be administered concurrently with the avian IL-2.

Abstract: A sterilizing fluid passageway is defined by the annular space between a cylindrical injection needle and a surrounding cylindrical punch. A sterilizing fluid entry fitting allows the sterilizing fluid to be added to the passageway. In this manner, it will be understood that sterilizing fluid entering a fitting will travel through the passageway to clean the interior of a punch and an exterior of the needle. As an additional feature, however, the invention further comprises fluid exit openings that are adjacent to and partially above the lowermost portions of the punch, i.e., those portions that are most likely to enter an egg during injection. The openings permit a sterilizing fluid to travel from the entry fitting through the passageway and then to the exterior surface of the punch so that the sterilizing fluid sterilizes the passageway, the needle and both the interior and exterior portions of the punch that are most likely to enter an egg during injection.