The magnetoresistance (MR) of polycrystalline composites of ferromagnetic (FM) (M,Fe)(3)O(4) (M=Mn, Co, Ni, and Zn) spinel ferrite and weak FM alpha-Fe(2)O(3) insulator with spin canting was investigated. Sample disks were prepared by conventional solid-state sintering of alpha-Fe(2)O(3), with either Mn(2)O(3), Co(3)O(4), NiO, or ZnO in a mixing ratio of M/Fe=x/(3-x) at 1473 K for 10 h under Ar or air atmospheres. The largest MR ratios of 2.02% at room temperature and 11.7% at 77 K were observed under a magnetic field of 0.5 T for the (Mn,Fe)(3)O(4)/alpha-Fe(2)O(3) composite (x=0.25) sintered under air. The temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity showed a ln()proportional to T -1/2 relationship, which suggests tunneling electron conduction in the granular composite. The MR ratio changed with the magnetization of the (M,Fe)(3)O(4) spinel ferrite, with a maximum at 2.02% where the (Mn,Fe)(3)O(4) ferrite grains were separated with the alpha-Fe(2)O(3) barrier of several micrometer thickness. The MR may be attributed to spin polarization in the ferrite grains coupled with the alpha-Fe(2)O(3) insulating barrier, where its spins are slightly canting in strong anti-FM interaction.