--------------


                             SMITHFIELD FOODS, INC.


                                 --------------




                              AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO
              TO NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT DATED AS OF JULY 15, 1996

                     AMENDMENT DATED AS OF DECEMBER 1, 1997










                              AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO

         AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO (this "Agreement"),  dated as of December 1, 1997,
to the  separate  Note  Purchase  Agreements,  each  dated as of July 15,  1996,
between SMITHFIELD FOODS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), formerly
known as Smithfield Foods Virginia, Inc. and each of the Persons listed on Annex
1 thereto (collectively, the "Purchasers").

                                    RECITALS:

         A. The  Company  entered  into those  certain  separate  Note  Purchase
Agreements, each dated as of July 15, 1996, (as amended from time to time and as
in  effect  immediately  prior  to the  effectiveness  of  this  Agreement,  the
"Existing  Note  Purchase  Agreement,"  and, as amended by this  Agreement,  the
"Amended Note Purchase Agreement"),  with the Purchasers,  pursuant to which the
Company authorized, issued and sold, and certain of the Purchasers purchased (as
set forth on Annex 1 thereto):

                  (a)  $2,825,000 in aggregate  principal  amount of its six and
         twenty-four  one-hundredths  percent  (6.24%)  Series A Senior  Secured
         Notes Due November 1, 1998 (as amended,  restated or otherwise modified
         from time to time, the "Series A Notes"),

                  (b) $9,852,942 in aggregate  principal amount of its eight and
         forty-one  one-hundredths percent (8.41%) Series B Senior Secured Notes
         Due August 1, 2006 (as  amended,  restated or otherwise  modified  from
         time to time, the "Series B Notes"),

                  (c) $40,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of its eight and
         thirty-four  one-hundredths  percent  (8.34%)  Series C Senior  Secured
         Notes Due August 1, 2003 (as amended,  restated or  otherwise  modified
         from time to time, the "Series C Notes"),

                  (d) $9,000,000 in aggregate  principal  amount of its nine and
         eighty one-hundredths percent (9.80%) Series D Senior Secured Notes Due
         August 1, 2003 (as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to
         time, the "Series D Notes"),

                  (e)  $9,250,000 in aggregate  principal  amount of its ten and
         seventy five  one-hundredths  percent  (10.75%) Series E Senior Secured
         Notes Due August 1, 2005 (as amended,  restated or  otherwise  modified
         from time to time, the "Series E Notes"),

                  (f)  $100,000,000 in aggregate  principal  amount of its eight
         and fifty-two  one-hundredths  percent  (8.52%) Series F Senior Secured
         Notes Due August 1, 2006 (as amended,  restated or  otherwise  modified
         from time to time, the "Series F Notes"),

                  (g) $14,000,000 in aggregate  principal amount of its nine and
         eighty-five  one-hundredths  percent  (9.85%)  Series G Senior  Secured
         Notes Due November 1, 2006 (as amended,  restated or otherwise modified
         from time to time, the "Series G Notes"), and

                  (h) $14,779,412 in aggregate principal amount of its eight and
         forty-one- hundredths percent (8.41%) Series H Senior Secured Notes Due
         August 1, 2004 (as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to
         time, the "Series H Notes").








The Series A Notes,  the Series B Notes, the Series C Notes, the Series D Notes,
the  Series E Notes,  the  Series F Notes,  the  Series G Notes and the Series H
Notes are herein referred to,  individually,  as a "Note," and collectively,  as
the "Notes."

         B. As of the Effective  Date (defined  below),  the  Purchasers are the
holders  of all of the  outstanding  Notes;  the  holders  of the  Notes  on the
Effective Date are herein referred to as the "Holders."

         C. Gwaltney of  Smithfield,  Ltd.,  John Morrell & Co., The  Smithfield
Packing Company, Incorporated, SFFC, Inc., Patrick Cudahy Incorporated,  Brown's
of Carolina, Inc., Lykes Meat Group, Inc., Hancock's Old Fashioned Country Hams,
Inc. and Sunnyland, Inc. (collectively,  the "Guarantors"),  each a Wholly-Owned
Subsidiary,  are  guarantors  of the  obligations  of the Company in respect of,
among  other  things,  the Notes,  pursuant  to that  certain  Joint and Several
Guaranty dated as of July 15, 1996.

         D. The Company has  requested  that the Holders  agree to amend certain
provisions of the Existing Note Purchase Agreement.

         E. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the
Company  and the  Holders  are  willing  to amend  the  Existing  Note  Purchase
Agreement  in the  manner  specified  on  certain  Exhibits  hereto  and as more
particularly set forth herein.

                                   AGREEMENT:

         NOW THEREFORE, for valuable consideration,  the receipt and sufficiency
of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Holders agree as follows:

SECTION 1. WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS.

         To induce the  Holders to enter into this  Agreement,  the  Company and
each of the  Guarantors  represent and warrant to each of the Holders that as of
the Effective Date (as hereinafter defined):

         1.1 Corporate Organization and Authority.

         The Company and each Subsidiary:

                  (a) is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and 
         in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation;

                  (b) has all legal and corporate power and authority to own and
         operate its  Properties  and to carry on its business as now  conducted
         and as presently proposed to be conducted;

                  (c) has all necessary  licenses,  certificates  and permits to
         own and  operate  its  Properties  and to carry on its  business as now
         conducted and as presently  proposed to be conducted,  except where the
         failure to have such licenses, certificates and permits,


                                        2





         in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material 
         Adverse Effect; and

                  (d) has duly  qualified  or has  been  duly  licensed,  and is
         authorized  to do  business  and  is in  good  standing,  as a  foreign
         corporation,  in each state in the United States of America and in each
         other jurisdiction where the failure to be so qualified or licensed and
         authorized  and  in  good  standing,  in the  aggregate  for  all  such
         failures,  could  reasonably  be  expected  to have a Material  Adverse
         Effect.

         1.2 Authorization, etc.

                  (a) This  Agreement has been duly  authorized by all necessary
         corporate action on the part of the Company and each of the Guarantors.
         Each of this  Agreement,  the Amended Note Purchase  Agreement and each
         other  Financing  Document  (as  defined in the Amended  Note  Purchase
         Agreement,  the "Financing  Documents")  constitutes a legal, valid and
         binding  obligation of the Company or the  Guarantors,  as  applicable,
         enforceable,  in each case,  against the Company or such Guarantor,  as
         applicable, in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability
         may be limited by

                           (i) applicable      bankruptcy,      insolvency,
                  reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the
                  enforcement of creditors' rights generally and

                           (ii) general  principles  of equity  (regardless  of
                  whether such  enforceability  is considered in a proceeding in
                  equity or at law).

                  (b) The  Holders  are  the  record   owners  of  all  of  the
         outstanding Notes.

                  (c)  The  Guarantors  are  the  only  Persons  which  have  an
         outstanding Guaranty of the Notes.

         1.3 Litigation.

         There are no proceedings  pending,  or, to the knowledge of the Company
or the Guarantors,  threatened,  against or affecting the Company, any Guarantor
or any other Subsidiary,  or any of their respective  Properties in any court or
before any governmental  authority or arbitration board or tribunal that, either
individually or in the aggregate, conflict with or interfere with the ability of
the Company or any of the  Guarantors to execute and deliver this  Agreement and
to perform  their  respective  obligations  hereunder,  under the  Amended  Note
Purchase Agreement and under each of the other Financing Documents.

         1.4 No Conflicts, etc.

         The  execution  and delivery by the Company and the  Guarantors of this
Agreement  and the  performance  by the  Company  and the  Guarantors  of  their
respective  obligations under each of this Agreement,  the Amended Note Purchase
Agreement  and the other  Financing  Documents  to which they are a party do not
conflict with,  result in any breach in any of the  provisions of,  constitute a
default  under,  violate or result in the creation of any Lien upon any Property
of the Company or any Subsidiary under the provisions of:


                                        3






                  (a) any charter document, agreement with shareholders or 
         bylaws of the Company or any Subsidiary;

                  (b) any  agreement,  instrument  or  conveyance  by which  the
         Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective  Properties may be
         bound or affected; or

                  (c) any statute,  rule or regulation or any order, judgment or
         award of any court,  tribunal or arbitrator by which the Company or any
         Subsidiary  or any of  their  respective  Properties  may be  bound  or
         affected.

         1.5 Governmental Consent.

         The  execution  and delivery by the Company and the  Guarantors of this
Agreement  and the  performance  by the  Company  and the  Guarantors  of  their
respective obligations hereunder,  under the Amended Note Purchase Agreement and
the other  Financing  Documents  to which  they are a party do not  require  any
consents,   approvals  or  authorizations  of,  or  filings,   registrations  or
qualifications  with, any  governmental  authority on the part of the Company or
any  Subsidiary  under the  circumstances  and conditions  contemplated  by this
Agreement, the Amended Note Purchase Agreement or the other Financing Documents.

         1.6 Compliance with Law.

         Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary:

                  (a) is in violation of any law, ordinance, governmental rule 
         or regulation to which it is subject; or

                  (b) has failed to obtain any  license,  permit,  franchise  or
         other  governmental  authorization  necessary  to the  ownership of its
         Property or to the conduct of its business;

which  violation  or  failure to obtain  might,  either  individually  or in the
aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business,  prospects,  profits,
Properties  or  condition  (financial  or  otherwise)  of the  Company  and  the
Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, or the ability of the Company or the Guarantors
to perform any of their respective obligations set forth in this Agreement,  the
Amended Note Purchase Agreement or the other Financing Documents.

         1.7 Existence of Defaults.

         Immediately  prior to, and after  giving  effect to, the Note  Purchase
Agreement  Amendment (as such term is defined in Section 2 hereof), no condition
exists  that would  constitute  a Default or an Event of Default  under the Note
Purchase Agreement or the Amended Note Purchase Agreement, as the case may be.



                                        4





         1.8 Disclosure.

         Neither  this  Agreement  nor any written  statement  furnished  by the
Company or any  Guarantor  to any Holder in  connection  herewith  contains  any
untrue  statement of a material fact or omits a material fact  necessary to make
the statements contained therein or herein not misleading. There is no fact that
the Company has not  disclosed to the Holders in writing that has had or, so far
as the Company can now reasonably foresee,  could reasonably be expected to have
a material  adverse effect on the business,  prospects,  profits,  Properties or
condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as
a whole,  or the ability of the Company or any Guarantor to perform any of their
respective  obligations set forth in this  Agreement,  the Amended Note Purchase
Agreement or the other Financing Documents.

SECTION 2. AMENDMENT, DIRECTION; AFFIRMATIONS.

         2.1 Amendment to Existing Documents.

         The Company and the Guarantors, and, subject to the satisfaction of the
conditions set forth in Section 3 hereof, the Holders,  each hereby consents and
agrees that the Existing Note Purchase Agreement is hereby amended in the manner
and as specified in Exhibit A to this Agreement (such amendment  provided for in
Exhibit A is herein  collectively  referred to as the "Note  Purchase  Agreement
Amendment").

         2.2 Affirmation of Obligations under Amended Note Purchase Agreement 
and Notes.

         The Company  hereby  acknowledges  and  affirms all of its  obligations
under the terms of the Amended Note  Purchase  Agreement,  the Notes and each of
the other Financing Documents to which it is a party.

         2.3 Affirmation of Obligations under Joint and Several Guaranty and 
Financing Documents.

         Each of the  Guarantors  hereby  acknowledges  and  affirms  all of its
obligations  under the terms of the Joint and  Several  Guaranty  and each other
Financing Document to which it is a party.

SECTION 3. CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS OF NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT AMENDMENT.

         The Note Purchase Agreement Amendment shall not become effective unless
all of the following  conditions  precedent shall have been satisfied in full on
or before 5:00 p.m.  (Hartford,  Connecticut time) on January 30, 1998 (the date
of such satisfaction being herein referred to as the "Effective Date"):



                                        5





         3.1 Execution and Delivery of this Agreement.

         The  Company  and  each  of the  Guarantors  shall  have  executed  and
delivered to each of the Holders an original counterpart of this Agreement.

         3.2 No Defaults; Warranties and Representations True.

         No Default or Event of Default  shall  exist,  and the  warranties  and
representations  set forth in Section 1 hereof  shall be true and correct on the
Effective Date.

         3.3 Authorization of Transactions.

         The Company and each of the Guarantors  shall have  authorized,  by all
necessary corporate action, the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
performance  of all  obligations  of,  and the  satisfaction  of all  conditions
pursuant  to  this  Section  3 by,  and  the  consummation  of all  transactions
contemplated  by the Amended Note  Purchase  Agreement  and the other  Financing
Documents by, the Company and each of the Guarantors.

         3.4 Legal Opinions.

         The Holders  shall have received  legal  opinions as to such matters as
the Holders and their  special  counsel  shall  request in  connection  with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         3.5 Fees.

         The Company shall have paid the fees as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto.

         3.6 Expenses.

         The  Company  shall  have paid all costs and  expenses  of the  Holders
relating to this Agreement in accordance with Section 4.5 hereof.

         3.7 Confirmation of Holders' Satisfaction.

         Each of the  Holders  shall  have  delivered  to the  Company a written
statement  substantially  in the form of Exhibit B hereto (and the Company shall
have  acknowledged  and  agreed  to such  statement)  confirming  such  Holder's
satisfaction with respect to certain of the conditions specified in this Section
3.

SECTION 4. MISCELLANEOUS.

         4.1 Governing Law.

         THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE  WITH, AND
THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, INTERNAL VIRGINIA LAW, EXCLUDING
CHOICE-OF-LAW PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW OF SUCH STATE THAT


                                        6





WOULD  REQUIRE THE  APPLICATION  OF THE LAWS OF A  JURISDICTION  OTHER THAN SUCH
STATE.

         4.2 Duplicate Originals.

         Two or more duplicate  originals of this Agreement may be signed by the
parties,  each of which shall be an  original  but all of which  together  shall
constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may be executed in one or
more  counterparts  and shall be effective when at least one  counterpart  shall
have been  executed by each party  hereto,  and each set of  counterparts  that,
collectively, show execution by each party hereto shall constitute one duplicate
original.

         4.3 Waivers and Amendments.

         Neither  this  Agreement  nor any term hereof may be  changed,  waived,
discharged or terminated  orally,  or by any action or inaction,  but only by an
instrument  in writing  signed by the party  against  which  enforcement  of the
change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.

         4.4 Section Headings.

         The titles of the  Sections  hereof  appear as a matter of  convenience
only,  do not  constitute  a part of this  Agreement  and shall not  affect  the
construction hereof.

         4.5 Costs and Expenses.

         The Company shall pay all costs and expenses of the Holders relating to
this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the statement for reasonable fees
and  disbursements of the Holders'  special counsel  presented to the Company on
the  Effective  Date.  The Company  will also pay,  upon receipt  thereof,  each
additional  statement  for  reasonable  fees and  disbursements  of the Holders'
special  counsel  rendered  after the  Effective  Date in  connection  with this
Agreement or the Financing Documents.

         4.6 Survival.

         All warranties,  representations,  certifications and covenants made by
the Company or any of the  Guarantors in this  Agreement  shall be considered to
have been  relied  upon by the  Holders  and shall  survive  the  execution  and
delivery of this Agreement, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf
of the Holders.

         4.7 Time of Essence.

         Time is and  shall be of the  essence  in the  satisfaction  of all the
conditions set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement.

         4.8 Defined Terms.

         Capitalized  terms used  herein and not defined  herein  shall have the
meanings assigned to them in the Amended Note Purchase Agreement.




                                        7





         IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  each  of the  parties  hereto  has  caused  this
Agreement  to be  executed on its behalf by a duly  authorized  officer or agent
thereof.




                                               SMITHFIELD FOODS, INC.

                                               By:
                                                 -------------------------------

                                                    Name:
                                                    Title:


                                               GWALTNEY OF SMITHFIELD, LTD.



                                               By:
                                                 -------------------------------


                                                  Name:
                                                  Title:


                                               JOHN MORRELL & CO.



                                               By:
                                                 -------------------------------


                                                  Name:
                                                  Title:


                                               THE SMITHFIELD PACKING COMPANY,
                                               INCORPORATED



                                               By:
                                                 -------------------------------


                                                  Name:
                                                  Title:








                                               SFFC, INC.



                                               By:
                                                 -------------------------------


                                                  Name:
                                                  Title:


                                               PATRICK CUDAHY INCORPORATED



                                               By:
                                                 -------------------------------


                                                  Name:
                                                  Title:


                                               BROWN'S OF CAROLINA, INC.



                                               By:
                                                 -------------------------------


                                                  Name:
                                                  Title:


                                               LYKES MEAT GROUP, INC.



                                               By:
                                                 -------------------------------


                                                  Name:
                                                  Title:









                                               HANCOCK'S OLD FASHIONED COUNTRY
                                               HAMS, INC.



                                               By:
                                                 -------------------------------


                                                  Name:
                                                  Title:


                                               SUNNYLAND, INC.



                                               By:
                                                 -------------------------------


                                                  Name:
                                                  Title:

JOHN HANCOCK MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY



By:
  -------------------------------------------------

    Name:
    Title:

JOHN HANCOCK VARIABLE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY



By:
  -------------------------------------------------

    Name:
    Title:

MELLON  BANK,  N.A.,  solely in its  capacity  as Trustee  for the NYNEX  MASTER
PENSION TRUST, (as directed by John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company),  and
not in its individual capacity



By:
  -------------------------------------------------

    Name:
    Title:







MELLON BANK, N.A., solely in its capacity as Trustee for the AT&T MASTER PENSION
TRUST, (as directed by John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance  Company),  and not in
its individual capacity


By:
  -------------------------------------------------

     Name:
     Title:


THE MARITIME LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY


By:
  -------------------------------------------------

    Name:
    Title:


By:
  -------------------------------------------------

    Name:
    Title:


THE NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY


By:
  -------------------------------------------------

    Name:
    Title:


THE VARIABLE ANNUITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY



By:
  -------------------------------------------------

    Name:
    Title:


INDEPENDENT LIFE AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE COMPANY



By:
  -------------------------------------------------

    Name:
    Title:







ACADEMY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY



By:
  -------------------------------------------------

    Name:
    Title:


PEOPLES SECURITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY



By:
  -------------------------------------------------

    Name:
    Title:


UNITED OF OMAHA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY



By:
  -------------------------------------------------

    Name:
    Title:


COMPANION LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY



By:
  -------------------------------------------------

    Name:
    Title:


By:
  -------------------------------------------------

    Name:
    Title:


MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY



By:
  -------------------------------------------------

     Name:
     Title:










CM LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY



By:
  -------------------------------------------------

    Name:
    Title:









                                                                     EXHIBIT A

                  AMENDMENT TO EXISTING NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


         ss.1. Section 6.4 of the Existing Note Purchase Agreement is hereby 
amended to read in its entirety as follows:

                  6.4 Current Ratio.

                  The  Company  shall  not at  any  time  permit  the  ratio  of
         Consolidated  Current Assets to Consolidated  Current Liabilities to be
         less than 1.05 to 1.00.

         ss.2. Section 6.5 of the Existing Note Purchase Agreement is hereby 
amended to read in its entirety as follows:

                  6.5 Consolidated Working Capital.

                  The Company shall not at any time permit Consolidated  Working
         Capital to be less than Thirty Five Million Dollars ($35,000,000).

         ss.3. Section 6.6(e) of the Existing Note Purchase Agreement is hereby 
amended to read in its entirety as follows:

                  (e) Additional Funded Debt of the Company and the Subsidiaries
         if, after giving effect thereto and any  concurrent  application of the
         proceeds of such Funded Debt,  (i)  Consolidated  Funded Debt would not
         exceed 65% of Consolidated  Total  Capitalization and (ii) Consolidated
         Senior  Funded  Debt  would  not  exceed  55%  of  the  result  of  (A)
         Consolidated Total Capitalization minus (B) Senior Subordinated Debt.

         ss.4. Section 6.11 of the Existing Note Purchase Agreement is hereby 
amended to read in its entirety as follows:

         6.11 Total Liabilities.

         The  Company  shall not at any time  permit  the ratio of  Consolidated
Total Liabilities to Consolidated  Tangible Net Worth to exceed (a) 3.50 to 1 at
any time after  July 15,  1997 and prior to May 3, 1998 and (b) 3.25 to 1 at any
time on or after May 3, 1998.

         ss.5. Section 6.12(a)(i) of the Existing Note Purchase Agreement is 
hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:

         6.12     Restricted Payments and Restricted Investments.

                  (a)   Limitation   on  Restricted   Payments  and   Restricted
         Investments. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary
         to, at any time  declare or make or incur any  liability  to declare or
         make any Restricted  Payment (other than Restricted  Payments comprised
         solely of Distributions to the Company or a Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary in
         respect   of   the   capital   stock   of  a   Subsidiary   ("Permitted
         Distributions")) or make or authorize any Restricted Investment, unless


                                   EXHIBIT A-1







                           (i)  immediately  after giving effect to the proposed
                  Restricted  Payment or  Restricted  Investment,  the aggregate
                  amount  of  Supplemental   Restricted   Investments   made  or
                  authorized  after  the  Closing  Date  does not  exceed  fifty
                  million dollars  ($50,000,000) and the aggregate amount of all
                  Restricted  Payments (other than Permitted  Distributions) and
                  Restricted  Investments  (other than  Supplemental  Restricted
                  Investments)  made or  authorized  after the Closing Date does
                  not exceed the sum of

                                    (A)   twenty-five million dollars
                           ($25,000,000); plus

                                    (B)   twenty-five   percent   (25%)  of  the
                           aggregate  Consolidated  Net Income (or, in case such
                           aggregate Consolidated Net Income shall be a deficit,
                           minus one hundred percent (100%) of such deficit) for
                           the period  commencing on the Closing Date and ending
                           on the date of such proposed transaction; plus

                                    (C)  one  hundred   percent  (100%)  of  the
                           aggregate net cash  proceeds  received by the Company
                           after the Closing  Date from the  issuance or sale of
                           shares of capital  stock of the  Company  (other than
                           Mandatory Redeemable Stock);

         ss.6.  Section 9.1 of the Existing  Note  Purchase  Agreement is hereby
amended to add the  following  definition of "Senior  Subordinated  Debt" in the
appropriate alphabetical position in such section:

         Senior Subordinated Debt -- means, at any time, the aggregate amount of
Debt of the Company  outstanding at such time which has the terms and conditions
described in the Company's  Preliminary Offering Memorandum (draft dated January
15,  1998)  prepared by Chase  Securities,  Inc. for its  $125,000,000  issue of
Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007.

         ss.7.  Section 9.1 of the Existing  Note  Purchase  Agreement is hereby
amended to add the following definition of "Supplemental  Restricted Investment"
in the appropriate alphabetical position in such section:

         Supplemental Restricted Investment -- means a Restricted Investment, or
any part thereof,  which the Company shall have designated in writing to each of
the holders of the Notes as of the date such Restricted  Investment is made as a
"Supplemental Restricted Investment."

         ss.8.  Section 9.1 of the Existing  Note  Purchase  Agreement is hereby
amended to add the following  definition of "Consolidated Senior Funded Debt" in
the appropriate alphabetical order in such section:

         Consolidated  Senior Funded Debt -- means,  at any time,  the result of
(a) Consolidated  Funded Debt at such time minus (b) Senior Subordinated Debt at
such time.

         ss.9.      The definition of "Consolidated Current Liabilities" is
hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:

         Consolidated  Current  Liabilities -- means, at any time, the aggregate
amount of current  liabilities of the Company and the  Subsidiaries  as would be
shown on a consolidated balance


                                   EXHIBIT A-2





sheet for such Persons at such time plus (to the extent not  otherwise  included
therein) liabilities in respect of Excluded Funded Debt.

         ss.10.     The definition of "Funded Debt" in Section 9.1 of the
Existing Note Purchase Agreement is hereby amended to read in its entirety as
follows:

         Funded Debt -- means, at any time, with respect to any Person,  without
duplication:

                  (a) All Debt of such Person (including without limitation, the
         current  portion  thereof)  that by its  terms  or by the  terms of any
         instrument or agreement relating thereto matures,  or that is otherwise
         payable  or  unpaid,  more than one (1) year from,  or is  directly  or
         indirectly  renewable or  extendable  at the option of such Person to a
         date more than one (1) year (including,  without limitation,  an option
         of the debtor under revolving credit or similar agreement of obligating
         the lender or lenders to extend  credit  over a period of more than one
         (1) year) from, the date of the creation of such Debt  (notwithstanding
         that such Debt may be under certain  contingencies payable on demand or
         within one (1) year after such date of creation)  provided  that,  with
         respect  to the  Company  and the  Subsidiaries,  such  Debt  shall not
         include (to the extend  otherwise  included  therein)  Excluded  Funded
         Debt;

                  (b)      all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person; and

                  (c) all Debt of such Person of the type  specified  (e) of the
         definition of "Debt" provided such Debt of such Person is in respect of
         or in support of Funded Debt of another Person.

         ss.11.  Section 9.1 of the Existing Note  Purchase  Agreement is hereby
amended  to delete  the  definition  of  "Deemed  Funded  Debt" and to amend the
definition of "Excluded Funded Debt" to read in its entirety as follows:

         Excluded Funded Debt -- means, at any time, the aggregate amount of the
Debt of the  Company  and the  Subsidiaries  outstanding  at such time under the
Credit Facility.



                                   EXHIBIT A-3





                                                                      EXHIBIT B

                  FORM OF CONFIRMATION OF HOLDERS' SATISFACTION


                      Confirmation of Holders' Satisfaction


To:               Smithfield Foods, Inc. (the "Company")

Date:             January 27, 1998

Re:               Amendment  Number Two,  dated as of  December 1, 1997,  to the
                  separate  Note Purchase  Agreements  each dated as of July 15,
                  1996  (the  "Amendment  Agreement"),  among the  Company,  the
                  Guarantors and other Persons party thereto (such other Persons
                  herein collectively referred to as the "Holders")

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         The undersigned  (the "Holders") are the Holders  referred to above. In
accordance  with  Section 3.7 of the  Amendment  Agreement,  each Holder  hereby
confirms that, based on certain  warranties,  representations and certifications
made, and certain  documents  delivered,  by or on behalf of the Company and the
Guarantors  pursuant to the Amendment  Agreement,  such Holder is satisfied with
respect to the  conditions  specified in Sections  3.1,  3.4, 3.5 and 3.6 of the
Amendment Agreement.

         This  confirmation  shall not be construed as a waiver of any rights or
remedies  that  the  Holder  may  have in the  event  that  any  such  warranty,
representation  or  certification  made by the Company or any of the  Guarantors
shall have been false or misleading when made.

                                               [HOLDERS]



                                              By________________________________
                                                  Name:
                                                  Title:


ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED:

SMITHFIELD FOODS, INC.



By________________________________
   Name:
   Title:

                                   EXHIBIT B-1







                                   SCHEDULE 1

                                 Amendment Fees

=======================================================================================================================
              Name of Entity                     Amount of Fee                   Contact Name and Address
=======================================================================================================================
                                                                

John Hancock Mutual Life                     $10,000.00               John Tisdale, Esq.
Insurance Company                                                     John Hancock Mutual Life
                                                                      Insurance Company
                                                                      200 Clarendon Street, 50th Floor
                                                                      Boston, MA 02117
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Northwestern Mutual Life                 $10,000.00               Mark C. Boyle, Esq.
Insurance Company                                                     The Northwestern Mutual Life
                                                                      Insurance Company
                                                                      720 East Wisconsin Avenue
                                                                      Milwaukee, WI 53202
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Variable Annuity Life                    $8,666.67                David G. Castano, Esq.
Insurance Company                                                     American General Corporation
                                                                      2929 Allen Parkway, A37-01
                                                                      Houston, TX 77019

Independent Life and Accident                $1,333.33
Insurance Company
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Academy Life Insurance                       $2,857.14                Paul Houk, Esq.
Company                                                               Stites & Harbison
                                                                      400 West Market Street, Suite 1800
                                                                      Louisville, KY  40202

Peoples Security Life                        $7,142.86
Insurance Company
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United of Omaha Life                         $10,000.00               Gary Garrison, Esq.
Insurance Company                                                     Mutual of Omaha
                                                                      Mutual of Omaha Plaza
                                                                      Omaha, NE 68175-1008
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Massachusetts Mutual Life                    $10,000.00               Wallace G. Rodger, Esq.
Insurance Company                                                     Massachusetts Mutual Life
                                                                      Insurance Company
                                                                      1295 State Street, F461
                                                                      Springfield, MA 01111
=======================================================================================================================





                                 SCHEDULE 1 - 1




                                                                  Execution Copy


                                 AMENDMENT NO. 1


                  AMENDMENT  NO.  1  dated  as  of  November  19,  1997,   among
SMITHFIELD FOODS,  INC., a corporation duly organized and validly existing under
the laws of the State of Virginia (the "Borrower");  each of the Subsidiaries of
the  Borrower  identified  under  the  caption  "SUBSIDIARY  GUARANTORS"  on the
signature   pages  hereto   (individually,   a   "Subsidiary   Guarantor"   and,
collectively,  the "Subsidiary  Guarantors" and, together with the Borrower, the
"Obligors");  each of the lenders that is a signatory  hereto  (individually,  a
"Lender" and,  collectively,  the  "Lenders");  and THE CHASE  MANHATTAN BANK as
agent for the Lenders (in such  capacity,  together with its  successors in such
capacity, the "Administrative Agent").

                  The Borrower, the Subsidiary  Guarantors,  the Lenders and the
Administrative  Agent are parties to a Five-Year  Credit  Agreement  dated as of
July 15, 1997 (as heretofore modified and supplemented and in effect on the date
hereof, the "Credit Agreement"),  providing, subject to the terms and conditions
thereof,  for extensions of credit to be made by said Lenders to the Borrower in
an aggregate principal or face amount not exceeding $300,000,000.

                  The Borrower, the Subsidiary  Guarantors,  the Lenders and the
Administrative Agent wish to amend the Credit Agreement in certain respects, and
accordingly, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

                  Section 1.  Definitions.  Except as otherwise defined
in this Amendment No. 1, terms defined in the Credit Agreement
are used herein as defined therein.

                  Section 2.  Amendments.  Subject to the satisfaction of
the conditions precedent specified in Section 4 below, but
effective as of the date hereof, the Credit Agreement shall be
amended as follows:

                  2.01. References in the Credit Agreement (including references
to the Credit  Agreement as amended  hereby) to "this  Agreement"  (and indirect
references such as "hereunder", "hereby", "herein" and "hereof") shall be deemed
to be references to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby.

                  2.02. The definition of "Capital Expenditures" in Section 1.01
of the Credit Agreement shall be amended to read as follows:




                                 Amendment No. 1






                                      - 2 -



                  "Capital  Expenditures" means, with respect to any Person, for
         any period, all expenditures made and liabilities  incurred during such
         period for the acquisition of assets  (including any replacement in the
         ordinary course of business without reduction for sales, retirements or
         replacements)  which are not,  in  accordance  with  GAAP,  treated  as
         expense  items for such  Person in the year  made or  incurred  or as a
         prepaid expense applicable to a future year or years, and shall include
         all Capital Lease Obligations,  but shall not include expenditures made
         or  liabilities   incurred  during  such  period  for  Acquisitions  or
         Investments.  The amount of Capital Expenditures in any period shall be
         calculated without duplication in accordance with GAAP. Notwithstanding
         the foregoing,  with respect to the acquisition of replacement  sows by
         the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  in the  ordinary  course of
         business,  the amount  included  in Capital  Expenditures  shall be the
         acquisition cost of such sows,  reduced by the proceeds received by the
         Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries from the sale of the replaced sows.

                  2.03. Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement shall be amended by
adding the following new  definitions  and inserting the same in the appropriate
alphabetical locations:

                  "'Joint  Venture'  means any Investment by the Borrower or any
         of its Subsidiaries as a joint venturer or partner in any Person (other
         than a  Subsidiary)  principally  engaged  in a  business  in which the
         Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  are permitted by Section  6.03(b) to be
         engaged.

                  "'Net  Cash  Proceeds'   means  the  aggregate  cash  proceeds
         received by the Borrower  from its issuance of the Senior  Subordinated
         Notes,  net of  transaction  fees,  costs and expenses  incurred by the
         Borrower in connection with such issuance."

                  "'Senior  Subordinated  Notes' means senior subordinated notes
         issued by the  Borrower  prior to December 31, 1998 having the material
         terms and  conditions  set forth in the  offering  memorandum  relating
         thereto,  a copy of which has been  furnished  to the Lenders  prior to
         November __, 1997,  and any  additional  series of senior  subordinated
         notes issued by the  Borrower at the same rate of interest,  and having
         substantially  the same material terms and  conditions,  as such senior
         subordinated  notes on or before the first  anniversary  of the date of
         issuance of such senior subordinated notes, as the same shall,  subject
         to



                                 Amendment No. 1






                                      - 3 -



         Section 6.14, be modified and supplemented and in effect
         from time to time."

                  2.04.  Sections  6.04(b),  (c) and (e) of the Credit Agreement
shall be amended to read as follows:

                  "(b)  Investments by the Borrower  existing on the date hereof
         in  the  capital  stock  of its  Subsidiaries  and  Investments  by the
         Borrower  existing on the date hereof  described  in Part B of Schedule
         3.14;"

                  "(c) Investments made by the Borrower in any Subsidiary
         and made by any Subsidiary in the Borrower or any other
         Subsidiary;"

                  "(e) Investments constituting Acquisitions or Joint
         Ventures permitted by Section 6.12(f);"

                  2.05.  The  proviso  contained  in Section  6.08 of the Credit
Agreement  shall be amended by (a)  substituting  a comma for "and"  immediately
preceding  clause (vi) thereof and (b) adding a new clause (vii) thereto reading
as follows:

         "and  (vii)  clause  (a)  of  the  foregoing  shall  not  apply  to any
         requirement  that obligations of the Borrower or its  Subsidiaries,  as
         the case  may be,  that are  pari  passu  or  subordinated  in right of
         payment  to  the  Senior   Subordinated  Notes  or  the  guaranties  by
         Subsidiaries  of the Borrower in respect  thereof,  as the case may be,
         may not be secured  unless the Senior  Subordinated  Notes  and/or such
         guaranties are at least equally and ratably secured"

                  2.06. Section 6.12(c) of the Credit Agreement shall be amended
to read as follows:

                  "(c) The  Borrower  will not permit the ratio of  Consolidated
         Total Liabilities to Consolidated  Tangible Net Worth on any date to be
         more than the ratio set forth below  opposite  the period  during which
         such date falls:

             Period                                      Ratio

  From the Effective Date through
    May 2, 1998                                        3.50 to 1
  From May 3, 1998 and thereafter                      3.25 to 1



                  2.07. Section 6.12(f) of the Credit Agreement shall be amended
to read as follows:




                                 Amendment No. 1






                                      - 4 -




                  "(f) (1) Except as permitted by Section  6.12(f)(2) below, the
         Borrower will not permit the sum (without  duplication)  of (i) Capital
         Expenditures  made by the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  in any fiscal
         year of the  Borrower  plus (ii) the  Aggregate  Consideration  for all
         Acquisitions  made by the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries in such fiscal
         year  plus  (iii) an  amount  (not  less  than  zero)  equal to any net
         increase from the beginning of such fiscal year through the end of such
         fiscal year in the aggregate  amount of Investments in Joint  Ventures,
         to exceed the  higher of (x) the sum of  Consolidated  Net Income  plus
         depreciation for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal year
         or (y) $100,000,000."

                  (2) The sum (without  duplication) of (i) Capital Expenditures
         made by the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  in any fiscal year of the
         Borrower plus (ii) the  Aggregate  Consideration  for all  Acquisitions
         made by the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  in such  fiscal year plus
         (iii) an amount (not less than zero) equal to any net increase from the
         beginning  of such fiscal  year  through the end of such fiscal year in
         the aggregate  amount of  Investments  in Joint Ventures may exceed the
         limit  established by Section  6.12(f)(1),  provided that the aggregate
         amount of all such excesses  permitted by this Section  6.12(f)(2)  for
         all fiscal years of the Borrower shall not exceed the Net Cash Proceeds
         of the Senior  Subordinated  Notes received by the Borrower at or prior
         to the time of determination."

                  2.08.  Article VI of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
adding the following new Section 6.14 and inserting the same in the  appropriate
numerical location:

                           "SECTION 6.14.  Senior Subordinated Notes.  
         If any Default then exists or would result therefrom, the Borrower
         shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
         purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value, or
         set apart any money for a sinking, defeasance or other
         analogous fund for the purchase, redemption, retirement or
         other acquisition of, or make any voluntary payment or
         prepayment of the principal of or interest on, or any other
         amount owing in respect of, the Senior Subordinated Notes,
         except (subject to the terms of subordination thereof) for
         regularly scheduled payments of principal and interest in
         respect thereof required pursuant to the terms) hereof.  The
         Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its
         Subsidiaries to, consent to any modification, supplement or
         waiver of any of the provisions of any agreement, instrument




                                 Amendment No. 1






                                      - 5 -



         or other  document  evidencing  or relating to the Senior  Subordinated
         Notes without the prior consent of the  Administrative  Agent (with the
         approval of the Required Lenders) if such  modification,  supplement or
         waiver would be adverse in any material respect to the interests of the
         Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of the Lenders."

                  Section  3.  Representations  and  Warranties.   The  Borrower
represents and warrants to the Lenders that the  representations  and warranties
set forth in Article III of the Credit  Agreement  are true and  complete on the
date hereof as if made on and as of the date hereof and as if each  reference in
said Article III to "this Agreement" included reference to this Amendment No. 1.

                  Section 4. Conditions Precedent.  The amendments to the Credit
Agreement set forth in Section 2 hereof shall become  effective,  as of the date
hereof,  upon (a) the  execution  and  delivery of this  Amendment  No. 1 by the
Obligors,  the Required Lenders and the Administrative Agent and (b) in the case
of the  effectiveness  of the  amendment  set forth in Section 2.06 hereof,  the
issuance by the Borrower of the Senior Subordinated Notes referred to in Section
2.03 hereof in an aggregate principal amount of not less than $100,000,000.

                  Section   5.   Acknowledgment.    The   Administrative   Agent
acknowledges that it has received the projections and certificate referred to in
Section  6.01(f) of the Credit  Agreement  sufficient  to allow the  Borrower to
issue  Senior  Subordinated  Notes in an  aggregate  principal  amount  of up to
[$125,000,000] bearing interest at a rate not exceeding 10% per annum.

                  Section  6.  Miscellaneous.  Except  as herein  provided,  the
Credit  Agreement  shall  remain  unchanged  and in full force and effect.  This
Amendment  No. 1 may be  executed  in any number of  counterparts,  all of which
taken together shall  constitute one and the same amendatory  instrument and any
of the  parties  hereto may  execute  this  Amendment  No. 1 by signing any such
counterpart.  This  Amendment  No. 1 shall be  governed  by,  and  construed  in
accordance with, the law of the State of New York.



                                 Amendment No. 1






                                      - 6 -




                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  hereto  have  caused  this
Amendment  No. 1 to be duly  executed and delivered as of the day and year first
above written.


                                              SMITHFIELD FOODS, INC.

                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:  Aaron D. Trub
                                                       Title:  Vice President,
                                                       Secretary and Treasurer

                                              THE SMITHFIELD PACKING COMPANY,
                                                INCORPORATED

                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:  Aaron D. Trub
                                                       Title:  Secretary

                                              GWALTNEY OF SMITHFIELD, LTD.

                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:  Aaron D. Trub
                                                       Title:  Secretary

                                              PATRICK CUDAHY INCORPORATED

                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:  Aaron D. Trub
                                                       Title:  Secretary

                                              JOHN MORRELL & CO.

                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:  Aaron D. Trub
                                                       Title:  Secretary

                                              LYKES MEAT GROUP, INC.

                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:  Aaron D. Trub
                                                       Title:  Secretary



                                 Amendment No. 1






                                      - 7 -



                                              BROWN'S OF CAROLINA, INC.

                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:  Aaron D. Trub
                                                       Title:  Secretary

                                              HANCOCK'S OLD FASHIONED COUNTRY
                                                HAMS, INC.

                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:  Aaron D. Trub
                                                       Title:  Secretary


                                              VALLEYDALE FOODS, INC.

                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:  Aaron D. Trub
                                                       Title:  Secretary

                                              COPAZ PACKING CORPORATION

                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:  Aaron D. Trub
                                                       Title:  Secretary

                                              SUNNYLAND, INC.

                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:  Aaron D. Trub
                                                       Title:  Secretary

                                              SMITHFIELD PACKING-LANDOVER, INC.

                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:  Aaron D. Trub
                                                       Title:  Secretary





                                 Amendment No. 1






                                      - 8 -




                                              THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                                                individually and as
                                                Administrative Agent


                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:
                                                       Title:


                                              COOPERATIEVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN -
                                              BOERENLEENBANK B.A. "RABOBANK
                                                NEDERLAND", NEW YORK BRANCH


                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:
                                                       Title:

                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:
                                                       Title:


                                              AGRIBANK, FCB



                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:
                                                       Title:



                                              CREDIT AGRICOLE INDOSUEZ


                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:
                                                       Title:


                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:
                                                       Title:






                                 Amendment No. 1






                                      - 9 -




                                              DG BANK, DEUTSCHE
                                               GENOSSENSCHAFTSBANK,
                                               CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH


                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:
                                                       Title:

                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:
                                                       Title:

                                              NATIONSBANK, N.A.



                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:
                                                       Title:


                                              FBS AG CREDIT, INC.



                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:
                                                       Title:


                                              SUNTRUST BANK, ATLANTA


                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:
                                                       Title:

                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:
                                                       Title:







                                 Amendment No. 1






                                     - 10 -



                                              BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI TRUST
                                                COMPANY


                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:
                                                       Title:

                                              DRESDNER BANK AG



                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:
                                                       Title:



                                              FARM CREDIT SERVICES OF THE
                                                MIDLANDS, PCA


                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:
                                                       Title:


                                              HARRIS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK



                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:
                                                       Title:


                                              SANWA BANK LIMITED


                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:
                                                       Title:







                                 Amendment No. 1






                                     - 11 -


                                              THE SUMITOMO BANK, LIMITED,
                                                NEW YORK BRANCH



                                                   By_________________________
                                                       Name:
                                                       Title:






                                 Amendment No. 1