Work

Automated system for extraction of eggshell morphometric characteristics in chicken eggs

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The evaluation of eggshell morphometric characteristics is essential to ensure the quality of eggs intended for both consumption and incubation. Conventional methods for this analysis are mostly manual, destructive, time-consuming, and prone to human error. In this context, the present study proposes the development of an automated system based on computer vision for extracting key eggshell features: maximum length and width, area, porosity, and cracks. The system was designed to capture images from two positions, enabling high-resolution analysis of overall egg morphometry and shell porosity. A total of 326 commercial eggs from different production systems were analyzed, including 162 brown-shelled and 164 white-shelled eggs. The results showed a high correlation between the values obtained by the automated system and those from manual measurement methods, with coefficients of determination (R²) above 0.85 for the morphometric variables. Porosity analysis showed better performance for white-shelled eggs (R² = 0.97) compared to brown-shelled eggs (R² = 0.87). Crack detection achieved an accuracy above 90 % for both shell types, demonstrating the effectiveness of the automated method. It is concluded that the proposed system is a promising tool for application in the poultry industry, providing greater efficiency, precision, and reliability in eggshell quality assessment.

Source: Smart Agricultural Technology

DOI: 10.1016/j.atech.2025.101470

Authors: Sérgio Luís de Castro Júnior, Ana Elisa Custódio Montes Cândido, Ana Carolina de Sousa Silva, Iran José Oliveira da Silva

Institution: Universidade de São Paulo

Language: English

Topic: Industrial Vision Systems and Defect Detection

Subfield: Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,770