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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OkIjtDhV/PMtFI4aXK5puPaLrp3W/sTABS7orBRslgy9kRnDEFQKaYbh6LraPEIN
 LJlg+jSkzfvaWvTaCgl9Rg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-001734.txt : 20040108
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-001734.hdr.sgml : 20040108
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040108101120
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-001734
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031230
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040108

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LUTER JOSEPH W IV
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001187940

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15321
		FILM NUMBER:		04514534

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SMITHFIELD FOODS INC
		STREET 2:		200 COMMERCE ST
		CITY:			SMITHFIELD
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23430
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7573653021

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMITHFIELD FOODS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000091388
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MEAT PACKING PLANTS [2011]
		IRS NUMBER:				520845861
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0430

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 COMMERCE STREET
		STREET 2:		EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING
		CITY:			SMITHFIELD
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23430
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7573653000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 COMMERCE STREET
		STREET 2:		EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING
		CITY:			SMITHFIELD
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23430

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LIBERTY EQUITIES CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19710221

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LIBERTY REAL ESTATE TRUST
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19661113
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd27271.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-30</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000091388</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SMITHFIELD FOODS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SFD</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001187940</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LUTER JOSEPH W IV</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O 200 COMMERCE STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SMITHFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>23430</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>COMMON STOCK PAR VALUE $.50</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-30</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>250</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>167300</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwne
rship></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>COMMON STOCK PAR VALUE $.50</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>14908</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>BY CUSTODIAL TRUST FOR SON</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>COMMON STOCK PAR VALUE $.50</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>11476</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>BY CUSTODIAL TRUST FOR DAUGHTER</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>COMMON STOCK PAR VALUE $.50</value></securi
tyTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8934</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>BY WIFE</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">THERE WAS NO PAYMENT AS CONSIDERATION AS THIS TRANSACTION WAS A GIFT.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Michael H. Cole, as Attorney-in Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-08</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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