A spokesman for Pilgrim’s Pride said Saturday that only about 250 workers at its Live Oak plant would be laid off, as opposed to the 500 that had been anticipated. However, the bottom line remains the same: about 500 jobs will have been eliminated when the current round of cutting is complete.

Ray Atkinson, director of Corporate Communications for Pilgrim’s, said Saturday that attrition since December, when the reductions were announced, and a hiring freeze account for the difference.

Atkinson said the company is working to assist those whose jobs have been lost.

“We’re doing everything we can to help make this transition,” he said.

Total employment at the plant will fall from about 1,400 to about 900.