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                                                                  EXHIBIT 23(B)
 
                         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
 
The Board of Directors
Gold Kist Inc.:
 
  We consent to the use of our reports included herein or incorporated herein
by reference and to the references to our firm under the headings "Selected
Consolidated Financial Data" and "Experts" in the Prospectus. Our reports
refer to a change in accounting for certain investments in debt and equity
securities.
 
                                          KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
 
Atlanta, Georgia
September 24, 1997
