Exhibit 23.5


                                   FORM OF
                        CONSENT OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN & CO.



We refer to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4 (the "Registration
Statement") which includes the Offers to Purchase dated o, 1998 by Smithfield
Canada Limited to the holders of Common Shares, Class A Shares and Options of
Schneider Corporation.

We consent to the use in this Registration Statement of our compilation report
dated o, 1998 to the Directors of Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Smithfield Canada
Limited on the following financial statements:

 o Pro forma consolidated condensed balance sheets as at February 1, 1998 which
   have been prepared assuming both the pooling of interests methods of
   accounting and the purchase method of accounting;

 o Pro forma consolidated condensed statements of income for the forty weeks
   ended February 1, 1998 and the fiscal years ended April 27, 1997, April 28,
   1996 and April 30, 1995 which have been prepared assuming the pooling
   method of accounting.

 o Pro forma consolidated statements of income for the forty weeks ended
   February 1, 1998 and the fiscal year ended April 27, 1997 which have been
   prepared assuming the purchase method of accounting.

We report that we have read the Registration Statement referred to above and
have no reason to believe that there are any misrepresentations in the
information contained therein that is derived from the financial statements
upon which we have reported or that is within our knowledge as a result of our
audit of such financial statements.

This letter is provided to the securities regulatory authorities to which
it is addressed pursuant to the requirements of their securities regulations
and not for any other purpose.

Toronto, Ontario
       o,1998