A method for detecting a state of an egg, the method comprising: illuminating an egg with a plurality of light pulses, each one of said plurality of light pulses having: a wavelength between about 400 nanometer (nm) and about 1500 nm, a width between about 0.5 picoseconds (ps) and about 500 ps, and an intensity between about 0.1 milliJoule (mJ) and about 100 mJ; capturing a reflection of at least a portion of the plurality of light pulses at a time delay corresponding to light reflected from within said egg in an interval of between about 1 mm and about 20 mm; analyzing the captured reflection to determine at least one spectrum of each of said plurality of light pulses; and classifying at least one of a gender and a fertility state of said egg according to said at least one spectrum.