SAO PAULO, May 7 (Reuters) - Competing Brazilian

meatpackers have joined forces to circumvent problems caused by

heavy flooding in Rio Grande do Sul state, where torrential

rains severely disrupted operations, a local meat lobby said on

Tuesday.

Jose Ribas, who presides over Sindicarne in the

neighboring state of Santa Catarina, said local meatpackers were

working in partnership to overcome logistical hurdles preventing

feed and water supplies from reaching chicken and hog farms.

"Companies are helping one another, sharing animal feed and

lending trucks," he said by phone, referring to efforts to speed

up the arrival of basic supplies to struggling animal farms.

"Competition is out of the discussion."

Heavy flooding in Rio Grande do Sul blocked roads, killed

livestock, crippled critical infrastructure, and left entire

towns and grain fields under water.

Ribas confirmed the death of hogs and poultry on Rio

Grande do Sul farms due to the floods, but said it was not

possible to estimate the size of the losses.

Four chicken and hog plants are expected to remain halted

this week while six are gradually resuming operations, Ribas

said.

He declined to specify their locations because he cannot

speak for the companies.

ABPA, a national meat lobby, did not provide an

immediate comment on the number of halted or disrupted pork and

poultry plants in Rio Grande do Sul after the flooding.

On Monday, the group estimated 10 had been halted or

partially halted due to lack of personnel and animals to

process.