Gustavo Peña Canyon, Texas National Account Specialist, Southwest region Genex-CRI
Please describe your agricultural background.
I started working in the dairy industry in my native country, Mexico. In the U.S., I have worked as an assistant herd manager on dairies in Oregon and Utah. While in Utah, I coordinated the Hispanic Milking School through Utah State University. Most recently I was a practicing dairy veterinarian licensed through the University of Florida. My experiences include international dairy work in Mexico and Central America
What education are you bringing with you to this position?
I earned a degree in veterinary medicine at Mexico State University in 1991 and a master’s degree in dairy management from Utah State University in 2009. In 2011, I completed a veterinary residency in preventive medicine in food animals at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida.
What territory you will cover?
Mostly Texas and New Mexico, but I will travel across the country on an as-needed basis.
What are your new responsibilities?
Providing technical support in dairy reproduction management and Spanish training to dairy employees.
What previous positions have you held?
I held a resident position at the College of Veterinary Medicine at University of Florida. My position allowed me to consult in reproduction of large dairy herds. Previously, I was in University Extension at Utah State University under the direction of Dr. Duarte Diaz and Dr. Allen Young.
What excites you most about working in your new role?
I am very excited to be able to apply my research and knowledge in reproduction to support farmers in making profitable decisions.
How will you be of most help to producers in your region or area of expertise?
My experience as veterinarian and dairy manager along with my Spanish background will allow me to reduce the communication gap between producer and employees while helping improve on-farm reproduction.
Why did you choose this company?
There are several reasons as to why I made the choice to work for GENEX-CRI. This company is well known by dairy producers for the quality of their products and the long-term relationships with valued members.
Genex’s use of genetic health traits can improve the efficiency of milk production and milk components, increase longevity and decrease certain costs associated with lower-fertility animals.
What goals would you like to accomplish in this position?
Bilingual training seminars. I would like to continue to help dairy producers find opportunities to improve their herds whether it is team communication or applying new industry research.
I would like to become the “go-to” consultant in dairy reproduction. PD
