Scorned grower arrested in Pilgrim’s Pride chicken deaths

GREELEY – Authorities have arrested a man in connection with the deaths of more than 300,000 chickens raised by farmers in rural South Carolina who contract with Greeley-based Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. (Nasdaq: PPC), according to media reports.

Clarendon County sheriff’s deputies last week arrested chicken grower James Laverne Lowery, accused of killing 325,000 chickens. Deputies said Lowery killed the chickens after Pilgrim’s Pride terminated a contract with him.

Sheriff’s deputies did not respond to requests for comment from BizWest. Clarendon County Sheriff Randy Garrett previously told the newspaper that whomever killed the chickens “has a very…