REPORTABLE SEGMENT (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Oct. 30, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Oct. 30, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	$ 3,951.2	$ 3,545.5	$ 7,673.3	$ 6,954.0
Intersegment sales	(638.6)	(546.7)	(1,266.5)	(1,053.9)
Sales	3,312.6	2,998.8	6,406.8	5,900.1
Operating profit	224.7	278.1	397.9	455.7
Pork Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	2,774.8	2,478.1	5,372.1	4,891.6
Intersegment sales	(6.3)	(6.3)	(15.7)	(13.8)
Operating profit	171.2	188.9	307.9	302.2
Hog Production Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	785.3	706.6	1,535.1	1,354.9
Intersegment sales	(624.7)	(530.5)	(1,236.3)	(1,020.6)
Operating profit	63.9	78.3	133.6	142.1
International Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	391.1	329.4	766.1	645.7
Intersegment sales	(7.6)	(9.9)	(14.5)	(19.5)
Operating profit	17.3	44.1	17.3	68.6
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit	(27.7)	(30.2)	(60.9)	(55.4)
Other Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	0	31.4	0	61.8
Operating profit	$ 0	$ (3.0)	$ 0	$ (1.8)

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

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- Definition

Amount of revenue from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

Aggregate revenue during the period from the sale of goods in the normal course of business, after deducting returns, allowances and discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 5

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

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- Definition

Amount of total revenue for the reportable segments, including revenue from external customers, transactions with other operating segments of the same entity, and (gross) interest revenue. All considered to be "operating revenue" for purposes of the taxonomy.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 27

-Subparagraph a, b, c

-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 280

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 22

-Subparagraph (a),(b),(c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6534315&loc=d3e8736-108599

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