Pilgrim’s Pride has announced the loss of more than 500 jobs at its Suwannee County chicken processing plant. Ray Atkinson, director of corporate communications for Pilgrim’s, said Tuesday that 505 of the nearly 1,400 workers at the plant would be laid off in coming months.

Some contract growers will also be eliminated, but Atkinson said the number is not yet known. There are 158 growers in the area that service the local plant.

“We are taking this action in our continued effort to reduce costs and operate more efficiently,” Atkinson told the Democrat by email. “This is part of a broad-based plan to improve our competitive position and restore the company to profitability. We are always looking for ways to improve our efficiencies and reduce costs, but at this point we don’t have any immediate plans for additional layoffs or closures.”

Pilgrim’s, troubled by high feed prices and a glut in the poultry market, sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Dec. 1.

Atkinson said that the layoffs would be of second-shift processing operations employees at the plant. He said that once the financial situation is stable, it is hoped the Live Oak plant will return to two production shifts.

Atkinson said those workers notified of their impending layoff would work and collect a paycheck until their position is officially eliminated. Those workers will also be given “priority consideration” for other jobs within Pilgrim’s Pride for which they are qualified, Atkinson said. He also said that Pilgrim’s Pride would work with state and local workforce agencies to help assist laid off workers in finding another job. Severance packages will be offered to all salaried employees, said Atkinson.

“We have great employees at the Live Oak facility, and we sincerely wish that this action was not necessary,” Atkinson said in his email. “We appreciate the service our employees have given to the company, and we are committed to doing what we can to assist them in finding new employment quickly.”

Atkinson said the layoff was announced to all workers Friday. The layoffs will occur between Feb. 17 and March 29.

The Pilgrim’s plant is Suwannee County’s largest employer.