<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.17

                                                                  Execution Copy

                          COPYRIGHT LICENSE AGREEMENT

         THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT"), effective as of _______ on
the 4th day of September 1997, by and between Southern Foods Group, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership (hereinafter called "SFG"), and Milk Products,
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (hereinafter called "MILK PRODUCTS").

         WHEREAS, SFG has obtained ownership of the copyrights listed on
Schedule A (the "COPYRIGHTS");

         WHEREAS, Milk Products desires to use the Copyrights in connection
with packaging and advertisement (the "ADVERTISEMENTS") of various milk and
dairy products (the "PRODUCTS");

         WHEREAS, Milk Products will obtain financing pursuant to the terms of
that certain Credit Agreement of even date herewith among Milk Products, Bank
of America National Trust and Savings Association, as Agent and Letter of
Credit Issuing Bank and other financial institutions party thereto (such Credit
Agreement, together with any amendments thereto and renewals, extensions, and
replacements thereof the "MILK PRODUCTS CREDIT AGREEMENT") and SFG will obtain
financing pursuant to the terms of that certain Credit Agreement of even date
herewith among Licensee, SFG, the Lenders party thereto, and The Chase
Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent (such Credit Agreement, together with
any amendments thereto and renewals, extensions, and replacements thereof the
"SFG CREDIT AGREEMENT");

         WHEREAS, in accordance with terms of the Milk Products Credit
Agreement, Milk Products executed that certain Security Agreement between Milk
Products and Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association, as Agent
(in such capacity "BOFA AGENT"), to secure the Secured Bank Obligations as
defined in the Security Agreement with a security interest in, among other
things, all of the inventory of Milk Products;

         WHEREAS, in accordance with terms of the SFG Credit Agreement, SFG
executed that certain Security Agreement between SFG and The Chase Manhattan,
as Collateral Agent (in such capacity the "COLLATERAL AGENT"), to secure the
Obligations as defined in the Security Agreement with a security interest in,
among other things, all of the inventory of SFG;

         WHEREAS, BofA Agent and the Collateral Agent are hereafter
collectively referred to as "SECURED PARTIES";

         WHEREAS, Secured Parties require that each license entered into by SFG
or Milk Products provide each Secured Party with a limited right to sell any
and all finished goods_inventory on hand including materials covered by the
Copyrights;


COPYRIGHT LICENSE AGREEMENT - Page 1
<PAGE>   2
         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual
promises hereinafter set forth, the parties agree as follows:

         1.      GRANT OF LICENSE

         Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, SFG hereby
grants to Milk Products a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to copy and
distribute materials covered by the Copyrights.

         Subject to the term and conditions of this Agreement, Milk Products
hereby assigns to BofA Agent the right to dispose of any and all finished goods
inventory on hand of Products including any materials covered by the
Copyrights, provided that BofA Agent is otherwise exercising its rights
pursuant to Section ___ of the Security Agreement with respect to such
inventory.

         2.      OWNERSHIP OF COPYRIGHTS

         Milk Products acknowledges the ownership of the Copyrights by SFG and
agrees that it will do nothing inconsistent with such ownership.

         3.      INFRINGEMENT PROCEEDINGS

         Milk Products agrees to notify SFG of any unauthorized materials
infringing the Copyrights as it comes to Milk Products' attention.  In the
event SFG fails to take action regarding any unauthorized products which
infringe the Patent, Milk Products shall have the right to take such action,
including the right to bring infringement proceedings.

         4.      INDEMNIFICATION BY MILK PRODUCTS

         Milk Products hereby indemnifies and undertakes to defend and hold SFG
harmless from and against any and all claims, suits, losses, damages, fines,
penalties, and/or expenses including, but not limited to, attorney's fees
arising out of or based upon:

         (a)     Milk Products' or its manufacturing agents' use of the
Copyrights in Advertisements; or

         (b)     Any breach by Milk Products or its manufacturing agents of
their obligations under this Agreement; or

         (c)     Any proceeding brought by any person, governmental agency or
consumer group in connection with the Advertisements or Products prepared, sold
or distributed by Milk Products or its manufacturing agents which incorporate
materials covered by the Copyrights; or

         (d)     Any violation of any applicable law or any regulation or civil
claims relating to the manufacture, processing, sale, distribution, promotion
or advertising of Products which





COPYRIGHT LICENSE AGREEMENT - Page 2
<PAGE>   3
incorporate materials covered by the Copyrights unless attributable to SFG's
breach of its obligations under this Agreement.  SFG may participate in the
defense of any such litigation.

         5.      RESPONSIBLE FOR ACTS OF MANUFACTURING AGENTS

         Milk Products shall be solely responsible for the acts and omissions
of those with whom it or its manufacturing agents contract for any aspect of
the processing, distribution, or sale of the Products or Advertisements which
incorporate materials covered by the Copyrights.

         6.      MAINTENANCE OF INSURANCE

         In order to assure its ability to discharge its obligations to SFG,
Milk Products agrees that it will maintain throughout the term of this
Agreement at its expense, comprehensive general liability insurance, including
product liability insurance and contractual liability coverage specifically
endorsed to cover the indemnity provisions in this Agreement, from a carrier
satisfactory to SFG, in a minimum amount of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000)
combined single limit for each single occurrence, for bodily injury and
property damage which shall designate SFG as an additional insured therein.
The policy shall provide for thirty (30) day prior written notice to SFG from
the insurer in the event of any material modification, cancellation or
termination.  Milk Products shall deliver certificates of such insurance
coverage to SFG prior to the sale and/or distribution of any Products or
Advertisements which incorporate materials covered by the Copyrights.

         7.      TERM

         This Agreement shall continue in force for the life of the Copyrights.


         8.      RELATIONSHIP

         The relationship between SFG and Milk Products is that of licensor and
licensee.  Milk Products, its contractors, agents and employees shall under no
circumstances be deemed agents, franchisees, representatives, employees or
partners of SFG.

         9.      ASSIGNMENT AND SUBLICENSING

         Milk Products shall have the right to assign this Agreement, in whole
or in part, for the benefit of a creditor pursuant to the requirements of the
Milk Products Credit Agreement.  Milk Products shall not have the right to
sublicense the Copyrights without the prior written approval of SFG.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the
provisions of this section shall not apply to (a) Milk Products sale of equity
interests in Milk Products to third parties or (b) any change in the control or
ownership of Milk Products.





COPYRIGHT LICENSE AGREEMENT - Page 3
<PAGE>   4
         10.     INTERPRETATION OF AGREEMENT

         It is agreed that this Agreement shall be interpreted according to the
laws of the State of Texas, United States of America.

         11.     COUNTERPARTS

         This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original and all of which taken together constitute
one and the same instrument.


               [REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY]





COPYRIGHT LICENSE AGREEMENT - Page 4
<PAGE>   5
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be executed as of the day and year first above written.


SOUTHERN FOODS GROUP, L.P.

BY SFG MANAGEMENT LIMITED LIABILITY
COMPANY, ITS GENERAL PARTNER


By:      /s/ PATRICK K. FORD
         ------------------------------------- 
         Patrick K. Ford, Assistant Secretary  




MILK PRODUCTS, LLC


By:      /s/ ALLEN A. MEYER
         ------------------------------------- 
         Allen A. Meyer, President





COPYRIGHT LICENSE AGREEMENT - Page 5
<PAGE>   6
                                   SCHEDULE A


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 TITLE OF WORK                                         REGISTRATION #             TYPE OF MERCHANDISE
 <S>                                                   <C>                        <C>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 "Borden's Dutch Chocolate Drink"                      KK 90978                   Milk
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 "A wonderful new treat from Borden's! - Borden's      KK 115873                  Milk
 Dutch chocolate flavored drink - the finest
 imported dutch cocoa gives it the most wonderful
 chocolate flavor! - It's rich with real milk
 nourishment!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 "Borden's Golden Vanilla Ice Cream! *** Brings        KK 192302                  Ice Cream
 Back *** Memories"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>





COPYRIGHT LICENSE AGREEMENT - Page 6