Women In The Pork Industry | 3rd-Gen Iowa Hog Farmer Becky Brandstetter | Real Pig Farming, Biosecurity & Barn Life

In this newest Pork Industry News: Women In The Pork Industry segment, host Rachel Fishback spotlights real pig farming and family agriculture with Becky Brandstetter, a third-generation hog farmer from Southwest Iowa raising nearly 2,800 head of hogs while balancing family life, animal health, and modern pork production.
Becky grew up in hog barns, took over her first 2,000-head finishing site in 2020, and expanded again when her dad retired from hog farming in 2024, bringing her total to roughly 2,800 head. She operates a feeder-to-finish system—bringing pigs in at 30–40 pounds and finishing them to market weight—with a hands-on focus on daily pig care, barn management, feed efficiency, and swine health.

As a trained veterinary technician, Becky shares how early detection, responsible treatment, and good stockmanship support healthy pigs—plus why controlled barn environments improve comfort, performance, and biosecurity compared to outdoor systems. She also breaks down what a real day looks like in pork production: chores twice a day, repairs, feed lines, augers, controllers, ventilation, and the constant attention required to keep pigs thriving.

✅ In this interview, you’ll hear about:
• What it’s like raising 2,800 head of finishing hogs in Iowa
• Why indoor hog barns support pig comfort, climate control, and disease prevention
• Practical biosecurity steps when you manage multiple sites
• Why feed and nutrition drive growth, days-to-market, and overall performance
• Common misconceptions about hog barns, space requirements, and animal care
• The financial reality of building new barns, contracts, and why expansion is challenging
• What it’s like being a woman in livestock farming and earning respect in the industry
• Advice for young farmers: work in barns first, learn from mentors, and consider renting empty sites
• How Becky uses TikTok for ag advocacy and “day in the life” hog barn education

Becky is proof that women in agriculture aren’t just part of the future of pork production—they’re leading it. If you care about pork producers, swine industry leadership, animal welfare, sustainability, and real farm stories, this episode delivers insight straight from the barn.
📍Featuring: Becky Brandstetter (Bex Pig Paradise)
🎙️Hosted by: Rachel Fishback | Pork Industry News
📌Location: Southwest Iowa

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Know a woman in the pork industry who should be featured? Nominate her today for an upcoming Women In The Pork Industry interview and help us tell her farm story. Whether she’s raising hogs, leading in swine health, working in pork policy, managing nutrition programs, or supporting the industry behind the scenes, we want to spotlight the women shaping the future of U.S. pork production.

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