Moy Park is to temporarily cease processing live birds at its Ballymena plant which Unite The Union has claimed will put 400 jobs at risk.
The company has blamed ‘challenging market conditions’ for the decision.
Around 1,700 people are employed at the site. Other production processes will continue at the plant.
A spokesperson said: “Moy Park is proposing to temporarily cease processing live birds at Ballymena due to challenging market conditions, with the view that we will re-open the line in January 2020.”
Headquartered in Craigavon, Moy Parks employs 6,300 people across Northern Ireland and 12,000 at operations in the Republic of Ireland and across in Europe.