Peco Foods, Inc. recently secured a major technological breakthrough with the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 12721323. This patent, titled ‘Lighting system for poultry houses’, introduces an advanced method to control the amount and intensity of light available to poultry. Inventors Roddy Sanders, Steve Mclaurin, and Cameron Sanders designed this system to operate during a poultry production cycle, providing birds with migration options to areas of lower or higher light intensity.
Advanced Lighting Design for Poultry
The innovation focuses on a structural lighting design tailored for agricultural facilities. The system utilizes at least two straight lines of lights suspended from the ceiling approximately a foot away in a horizontal direction from unitary feeders. This setup creates intentional light gradients within the house. By allowing the birds to naturally regulate their environment by moving between higher and lower light areas, this targeted approach improves overall management practices and poultry welfare.
Alabama Patent of the Month Recognition
This invention was awarded the patent of the month for the Alabama state for the month of October 2026 granted by Swanson Reed. The recognition highlights the significant impact of the technology on the local agricultural sector, as Alabama is a major hub for poultry production. Swanson Reed selected this patent because it demonstrates practical ingenuity in animal husbandry. The system addresses common industry challenges by integrating lighting directly with behavioral management, making it a highly relevant advancement for agricultural operations across the state.
R&D Tax Credit Eligibility in the USA
The practical applications of this patent present strong opportunities for claiming the Research and Development tax credit in the USA. To implement this lighting system, agricultural companies and engineers must engage in systematic experimentation. Developing the optimal light intensity gradients and testing the spatial relationship between the lights and feeders requires overcoming technical uncertainties. Companies developing these configurations would need to evaluate various LED spectrums, control systems, and fixture placements to measure their effects on poultry behavior and growth. Activities such as designing prototypes, conducting behavioral trials, and refining the lighting control algorithms based on empirical data meet the criteria for qualified research activities, making the associated expenses eligible for the R&D tax credit.
