U.S. giant meat and poultry processor Tyson Foods Inc. (TSN) has secured a 100-million-Brazilian-real ($51.4 million) loan from Brazil's southern regional development bank, or BRDE, to support its poultry suppliers, a press officer for Tyson said Tuesday.

Tyson will use the loan to help some 330 suppliers of poultry to modernize and expand their operations in Brazil's southern states of Parana and Santa Catarina, the press officer said.

Tyson, the world's largest meat processor, in October 2008 acquired three companies in Brazil.

The loan will allow the suppliers to improve the supply of chickens to Tyson's three plants, he said.

Brazil is the world's No. 1 exporter of chickens.

-By Tony Danby, Dow Jones Newswires; 55-11-2847-4523; Anthony.Danby@dowjones.com