A method for making a quality determination in avian eggs, such as relating
to fertility or hatching or hatchling viability, comprises the following
activities. A process line is equipped to process an endless succession of
eggs at an early opportunity. The process line has an ultrasound
inspection station for the eggs. The ultrasound inspection results are
analyzed to make a finding correlatable to the egg's shell quality, which
in turn is correlatable to such quality factors as fertility or hatching
or hatchling viability. A sorting determination is made based on this
analysis as to which output category the egg should be sorted. The output
categories might number three or so including qualified premium as for
graduation to hatchery operation, not qualified for hatchery but not
waste, and flunked because unusable and hence waste. The intermediate
category might include graded for pet consumption.
