XML 28 R25.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT ﻿
v2.3.0.11

INVESTMENTS (Tables) | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Jul. 31, 2011
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract] |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Table Text Block] | Investments consist of the following:
Equity Investment |  | % Owned |  | July 31, 2011 |  | May 1, 2011
|  |  |  | (in millions)
Campofrío Food Group (CFG) |  | 37% |  | $ | 447.8 |  |  | $ | 445.1 |
Mexican joint ventures |  | 50% |  | 115.4 |  |  | 110.2 |
Other |  | Various |  | 28.6 |  |  | 27.2 |
Total investments |  |  |  | $ | 591.8 |  |  | $ | 582.5 |
Schedule of Equity in (Income) Loss of Equity Method Investments [Table Text Block] | Equity in income of affiliates consists of the following:
|  |  |  | Three Months Ended
Equity Investment |  | Segment |  | July 31, 2011 |  | August 1, 2010
|  |  |  | (in millions)
CFG (1) |  | International |  | $ | (0.2 | ) |  | $ | (3.2 | )
Mexican joint ventures |  | International |  | (3.0 | ) |  | (4.9 | )
Butterball (2) |  | Other |  | — |  |  | (1.3 | )
All other equity method investments |  | Various |  | (1.6 | ) |  | (1.5 | )
Equity in income of affiliates |  |  |  | $ | (4.8 | ) |  | $ | (10.9 | )
——————————————
(1) | CFG prepares its financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards. Our share of CFG’s results reflects U.S. GAAP adjustments and thus, there may be differences between the amounts we report for CFG and the amounts reported by CFG.
(2) | In December 2010 (fiscal 2011), we completed the sale of our interest in Butterball and our related turkey production assets to our joint venture partner.

X
- Definition Schedule of Equity in (Income) Loss of Equity Method Investments [Table Text Block] + Details
Name: | sfd_ScheduleOfEquityInIncomeLossOfEquityMethodInvestmentsTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | sfd
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsAndJointVenturesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of equity method investments in common stock. The disclosure may include: (a) the name of each investee or group of investments for which combined disclosure is appropriate, (2) the percentage ownership of common stock, (3) the difference, if any, between the carrying amount of an investment and the value of the underlying equity in the net assets and the accounting treatment of difference, if any, and (4) the aggregate value of each identified investment based on its quoted market price, if available. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 18 -Paragraph 20 -Subparagraph a, b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration