Showing Up for Cattle
Alex Thompson’s passion for cattle started long before he became the Feedlot Business Manager for Zinpro®. He traces his work ethic, sense of responsibility and love of cattle back to showing cattle as a child. Chief holds a special place in his heart, as the first steer Alex sold at the California State Fair. This upbringing led him to Cal Poly and Texas Tech to pursue multiple Animal Science degrees, and brought him to Zinpro.
Diving Into the Data
Alex’s interest in cattle research showed up at a remarkably early age, with a 6th grade science fair project that continued for six years and earned him a spot at the California State Science Fair. He designed a study that looked at the effects of different cattle diets, roughage- or grain-based, on microorganism colony growth and other qualities of fecal matter.
Getting deep into the data is energizing to Alex, from analyzing sports statistics after hours to the 400+ peer-reviewed research studies at Zinpro. He particularly enjoys finding the trends across studies that provide stronger, more reliable evidence of performance.
Seeing Past the Silos
After earning his PhD, Alex thought he’d make his career teaching and researching, but he had concerns about the silos he saw in academia. Zinpro offered a more appealing prospect: the ability to work across traditional industry boundaries of species, territory and job function, to truly collaborate when solving producers’ issues.
As he says, no matter where a solution comes from, “a win’s a win” for customers, and his competitive spirit thrives on a winning team.
Mentoring Graduate Students
Alex now works to support the next generation of animal scientists and give them a more complete practical picture of what their career paths might look like. Through programs like the Plains Nutrition Council student sessions, he helps graduate students connect with industry leaders to explore questions that aren’t answered in the classroom.
One piece of advice he often shares: “Don’t mistake activity for productivity.” Be intentional with your actions.
Family at the Center
On a wall in Alex’s office is an unusual testament to the central role his family plays in his life. Next to a framed piece of carpeting from his grandparents’ house is a photo of one of the many sleepovers he shared with his cousins on that same 1970’s shag surface.
Today, Alex’s favorite role is being dad to his two young children, eagerly anticipating the memories he will build with them and his extended family through the years.
Unique en son genre. Unis dans la même pensée.
Alex’s story is unique, but he’s committed to Zinpro’s shared goal: helping producers bring out the best in their animals.
C'est ça, l'effet Zinpro®.
