Pilgrim's Pride notified employees at its Live Oak, Fla., plant on Dec. 19 that it will end second-shift processing operations at the plant within the next 60 to 90 days, eliminating about 505 of the plant's 1,400 positions.

"This is part of our continued efforts to reduce costs and operate more efficiently," Pilgrim's Pride spokesman Ray Atkinson told Meatingplace.com.

The positions will be eliminated between Feb. 17 and March 29, 2009. Some contract growers and employees in live operations will also be affected, the company said in a statement.

"It is our long-term goal to return to two production shifts when market conditions are favorable," the company added, noting, "at this point we don't have any immediate plans for additional layoffs or closures."

The shift reduction and resulting layoffs are the latest actions the Pittsburg, Texas-based company is taking to improve its competitive position and restore profitability after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early December.

On Tuesday, a judge in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas approved the company's final debtor in possession financing, but noted there may be amendments to address some concerns, according to Reuters. Earlier this month the company received interim court approval to access $365 million of $450 million in DIP financing.

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