Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International

The growing requirement for energy and vulnerability of the traditional source of energy in the poultry industry make sustainable and dependable energy sources an inevitable alternative with solar energy being a key player in modern poultry industries. The poultry industry requires energy for various activities such as brooding, incubation, ventilation, lighting, feeding, and monitoring of the farm which require energy because failure to have a reliable energy source could result in loss of productivity and even death of the birds leading to losses for poultry farmers. Solar energy provides an economically viable and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional sources of energy that is suitable for use in rural areas or off-grid poultry farms. In this review, the global use of solar energy in poultry production will be discussed, ranging from solar powered brooders and heaters, solar driven ventilation and lighting, solar incubators, and incorporation of solar energy in Internet of Things (IoT)-based environmental controls and disease surveillance systems. Solar energy has been found to be effective in minimizing operational costs, increasing hatching rates, improving feed conversion efficiency, and guaranteeing environmental control. Solar energy also plays an important role in climate change prevention due to its reduced carbon footprint and reduction in the consumption of non-renewable sources. Therefore, the incorporation of solar technologies in poultry farming is a viable solution for enhancing the performance of poultry farms.