Zartic Inc. said it will cut 83 jobs at its Cedartown beef processing plant and reduce production at the plant.

Employees at the plant have been notified of the cuts, which will be effective Monday, said Zartic President Jeff Mauer.

Zartic is cutting its operating schedule from two eight-hour shifts per day to one 12-hour shift with rotating employee schedules, Mauer said.

After the cutback, about 300 workers will remain at the Cedartown plant, he said.

“The balance of our Cedartown work force should adapt quickly and favorably to the new schedule,” Mauer said. “We expect the streamlined Cedartown operation to be a mainstay in the community for years to come.”

Mauer said the affected Cedartown workers will be given the option of relocating to other Zartic plants as jobs become open in the future.

“While the clear majority of those affected had less than six months tenure with the company, we always regret circumstances that necessitate a downing,” he said.

Mauer said that cutbacks are not expected at other Zartic plants.

“Other than seasonal temporary work force reductions related to Zartic’s long-standing school food service business segment, the company expects no other permanent work force reduction at any Zartic facility,” Mauer said.

Rome-based Zartic is a full-service beef, poultry, veal and pork processor.

The company employs 1,250 people at four production facilities: a poultry processing plant in West Rome; a poultry deboning plant in East Rome; the Cedartown beef processing plant and a pork processing plant in Hamilton, Ala.

Zartic brands include Z-Bird poultry and Jim’s Country Mill.