Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

Non-destructive measurement of eggshell strength using NIR spectroscopy and explainable artificial intelligence.

Ahmed MW, Alam S, Khaliduzzaman A, Emmert JL, Kamruzzaman M.

J Sci Food Agric · 2025

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Summary

This study investigates the application of near-infrared spectroscopy as a non-destructive method for measuring eggshell strength, a key quality parameter in poultry production. Machine learning models, supplemented by explainable artificial intelligence techniques, were employed to interpret spectral data and identify the chemical or structural features most predictive of shell integrity. The work contributes to the development of rapid, inline quality assessment tools that could reduce reliance on destructive testing in egg grading and production monitoring.

UK applicability

The findings are broadly applicable to UK commercial egg production, where eggshell quality is a significant concern for both welfare and marketability. UK producers and grading facilities could potentially adopt NIR-based systems to improve non-destructive quality control, and the approach aligns with wider industry interest in precision livestock farming technologies.

Key measures

Eggshell breaking strength (N or kgf); NIR spectral data; model prediction accuracy (e.g. R², RMSE, RMSEP); feature importance scores from XAI methods

Outcomes reported

The study evaluated the accuracy of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy combined with explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) methods to predict eggshell strength non-destructively. It likely reported predictive model performance metrics and identified the spectral wavelengths most influential in determining shell integrity.

Theme
Measurement & metrics
Subject
Poultry production & egg quality
Study type
Research
Study design
Laboratory/instrumental study with machine learning modelling
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
International
System type
Poultry production
DOI
10.1002/jsfa.14290
Catalogue ID
NRmo3f02hq-08c

Topic tags

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