Effani Agriculture Inc.
Founded to ensure that a quick and reliable test for feed efficiency is applied to improve animal agriculture
Benjamin Renquist, PhD
Founder and CEO
Dr. Benjamin Renquist is the inventor of the technology that is the backbone of Effani Ag. As Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Renquist leads Effani Ag. research and development.
Ben grew up in Julesburg, CO working on his family’s farm. Rod, his dad, oversaw the farming operation on which they grew soybeans, corn, pinto beans, wheat, and alfalfa. Larry, his uncle, oversaw the feedlot, in which they grew dairy bull calves from bucket to harvest. Ben was always partial to animals and as a kid loved his time on the feedlot.
Ben has BS (Colorado State University) and MS (UC Davis) training in Animal Science and a PhD (UC Davis) in nutrition. He did post-doctoral training with National Academy member Roger Cone at Oregon Health and Science University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Ben has led his independent research laboratory at the University of Arizona since 2011 where his research is focused simultaneously on improving animal agriculture and human health.
James Loughead
Sales
James Loughead joined the Effani Agriculture Team in January 2024. An Arizona native born in Mesa, Jim was active in sports, 4-H and FFA through high school and earned a BS in Animal Science from The University of Arizona in 1984.
He has extensive food animal production experience from work in Arizona feedlots, dairies and calf ranches. Jim gained sales skills with animal health distributor Animal Health International, Inc. (formerly Walco International, Inc.) then joined Fort Dodge Animal Health (FDAH), division of Wyeth, as a Territory Manager in 2003. Jim moved to Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc. (BIAH) in October 2009. At FDAH and BIAH, he called on producers, veterinarians, distributors, dealers and influencers from academia & regulatory agencies throughout Arizona and across the Southwest servicing portions of Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas.
Jim has been appointed or elected to, or a member or leader of: the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board, the Arizona Cattle Feeders Association Board of Directors, the Arizona Cattle Growers Association, Maricopa County Farm Bureau, the Arizona National Livestock Show, The University of Arizona College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences (UA CALES) Alumni Council Board of Directors, the East Maricopa Natural Resource Conservation District Board and the Arizona Natural Resource Conservation Districts State Association. In May 2015, Jim received the inaugural Award for Extraordinary Efforts in Engagement and Advocacy from UA CALES.
Our technical sales team is dedicated to helping producers improve feed efficiency and profitability.