Using a combination of metagenomic sequencing and bioinformatics to analyze environmental samples from poultry operations could offer producers a new approach to disease surveillance and biosecurity management.
The platform technology creates a map of a barn microbiome to identify potential health risks before they escalate into full-scale outbreaks, detect pathogens at the strain level and provide location-specific recommendations for intervention strategies.
“This can really help folks get to the bottom of a potential outbreak more quickly than maybe they otherwise would,” said Michael Rhys, CEO and co-founder of Barnwell Bio. “There are a lot of options as it pertains to interventions and treatments available, and what we can help them think through is, for my specific barn, for my specific location, what’s going to be the best set of options.”
At the 2025 Poultry Tech Summit, Rhys will discuss how the platform could help contain outbreaks, evaluate security protocols and ultimately save producers time and money.
The Poultry Tech Summit, scheduled for November 3-5, 2025, at the Atlanta Airport Marriott in Atlanta, Georgia, brings together inventors, researchers, entrepreneurs, poultry industry professionals and established technology providers to discuss challenges and solutions for all aspects of the poultry supply chain.
Registration for this event is now open.
Comprehensive surveillance
The technology differentiates itself from traditional diagnostics through its comprehensive surveillance approach.
“With metagenomic sequencing, what we’re able to do is take a sample and look at anything that leaves a DNA footprint,” Rhys explained. “What’s really nice about it is that we can look at different strains of pathogens, and we can also look at emerging pathogens.”
Implementation requires minimal disruption to farm operations. Producers simply wear specially coated boot socks while walking through barns during routine activities, collecting aggregate manure samples in the process.
These samples are then shipped off for analysis, with results delivered through a software dashboard. The platform provides farm-specific data to guide biosecurity protocols and intervention strategies.
“What we can do is bring them really good data around their specific location to help them make decisions that are right for them, and decisions that are going to be most impactful, that ultimately are going to save them time and save them money,” Rhys said.
The company is currently focused on DNA-based pathogens but is expanding RNA detection capabilities.
Attend the 2025 Poultry Tech Summit
The Poultry Tech Summit will return as an in-person event on November 3-5, 2025, at the Atlanta Airport Marriott in Atlanta, Georgia. The Poultry Tech Summit brings together inventors, researchers, entrepreneurs, poultry industry professionals and established technology providers to discuss challenges and solutions for all aspects of the poultry supply chain. The event focuses on the transition of innovative technologies from researchers and entrepreneurs into commercial applications for the benefit of the poultry industry.
NEW in 2025, Poultry Tech Summit will be held in collaboration with the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry and Eggs (US-RSPE) annual meeting held November 5, 2025.
Registration for the 2025 Poultry Tech Summit is now open. For more information, go to www.poultrytechsummit.com.
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