REPORTABLE SEGMENT (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Jul. 29, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	$ 3,675.2	$ 3,722.1
Intersegment sales	(583.9)	(627.9)
Sales	3,091.3	3,094.2
Operating profit	131.8	173.2
Pork Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	2,599.6	2,597.3
Intersegment sales	(8.4)	(9.4)
Operating profit	118.6	136.7
Hog Production Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	728.8	749.8
Intersegment sales	(567.3)	(611.6)
Operating profit	23.1	69.7
International Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	346.8	375.0
Intersegment sales	(8.2)	(6.9)
Operating profit	15.8	0
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit	$ (25.7)	$ (33.2)

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

No definition available.

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- Definition

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

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 27

-Subparagraph 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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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.

+ 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 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

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

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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 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

Reference 2: 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.

+ Details

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