Hoogland Named Chief Production Officer at Iowa Select Farms

Aug 07, 2023

Iowa Select Farms announced Marlin Hoogland, DVM, as its new chief production officer. Hoogland will lead all production areas in this role as of Aug. 17, including gene transfer centers, multiplication, gilt development, sow production, wean-to-finish operations, research, nutrition, feed services and production well-being, the company said in a release.

Iowa Select Farms, the largest pork producer in Iowa, has 242,000 sows and annually produces over 1.5 billion pounds of pork.

Hoogland previously served as the vice president of research, nutrition and business innovation at Smithfield Foods. Before taking on the role of vice president, he was the lead veterinarian for over 12 years and oversaw veterinary services for the Midwest region.

A distinguished alumnus of Iowa State University, Hoogland graduated with his DVM from Iowa State University in 2005 and the University of Illinois' Executive Veterinary Program in 2009.

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Video: What Does 20 MILLION Hogs a Year Look Like?

?? The Multi-Plant System Processing 20 Million Hogs Annually in the Midwest JBS USA operates multiple large-scale pork processing facilities across the Midwest, including major plants in Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana. Combined, these facilities have the capacity to process approximately 20 million hogs annually.

Each plant operates high-speed automated slaughter systems capable of processing up to 20,000 head per day, followed by fabrication lines that break carcasses into primals, sub-primals, and case-ready retail products.

Hog procurement is coordinated through electronic marketing platforms that connect regional contract finishing operations and independent producers to plant demand schedules. This digital procurement system allows for steady supply flow and scheduling efficiency across multiple facilities.

Processing plants incorporate comprehensive food safety systems, including pathogen intervention technologies, rapid chilling processes, and integrated cold-chain management. USDA inspection is embedded throughout the harvest and fabrication stages to ensure regulatory compliance and product integrity. Finished pork products — from bulk primals to retail-ready packaged cuts — are distributed through coordinated logistics networks serving domestic and export markets.