Meat & Poultry Briefs: Citing feed costs and an oversupply of chicken, Pilgrim's Pride Corp., Pittsburg, Texas, said it will lay off 116 workers at the company's Franconia, Pa., plant. Officials said the operation will continue processing chicken salad products while its individually quick frozen items will transfer to other company sites. . .  Bill Rupp, business unit leader for Cargill Beef and Cargill Meat Solutions, Wichita, Kan., will step down on Feb. 1, 2009, to pursue "philanthopic and entrepreneurial opportunities" the company said. John Keating, head of Cargill's Case Ready and Regional Beef businesses, will assume Rupp's role as head of Cargill Beef. Cargill said Jody Horner, head of Cargill Salt, will assume Rupp's role as president of Cargill Meat Solutions.