10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2011

OR

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             

001-14704

(Commission File Number)

TYSON FOODS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	71-0225165
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
2200 Don Tyson Parkway, Springdale, Arkansas	72762-6999
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(479) 290-4000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer	x	Accelerated filer	¨
Non-accelerated filer	¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of December 31, 2011.

Class	Outstanding Shares
Class A Common Stock, $0.10 Par Value (Class A stock)		298,951,784
Class B Common Stock, $0.10 Par Value (Class B stock)		70,018,755

TYSON FOODS, INC.

INDEX

		PAGE
Item 1.	Financial Statements
	Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011		3
	Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011		4
	Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011		5
	Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements		6
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		28
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		37
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures		38

Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	38
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	39
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	39
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	39
Item 4.	Removed and Reserved	39
Item 5.	Other Information	39
Item 6.	Exhibits	40
SIGNATURES		40

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

TYSON FOODS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In millions, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Sales	$	8,329		$	7,615
Cost of Sales		7,836			6,871
Gross Profit		493			744
Selling, General and Administrative		215			246
Operating Income		278			498
Other (Income) Expense:
Interest income		(2	)		(3	)
Interest expense		49			66
Other, net		(12	)		(10	)
Total Other (Income) Expense		35			53
Income before Income Taxes		243			445
Income Tax Expense		87			151
Net Income		156			294
Less: Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0			(4	)
Net Income Attributable to Tyson	$	156		$	298
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:
Class A Basic		297			304
Class B Basic		70			70
Diluted		376			379
Net Income Per Share Attributable to Tyson:
Class A Basic	$	0.43		$	0.81
Class B Basic	$	0.39		$	0.73
Diluted	$	0.42		$	0.78
Cash Dividends Per Share:
Class A	$	0.040		$	0.040
Class B	$	0.036		$	0.036

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

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TYSON FOODS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

	December 31, 2011			October 1, 2011
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	857		$	716
Accounts receivable, net		1,281			1,321
Inventories		2,598			2,587
Other current assets		122			156
Total Current Assets		4,858			4,780
Net Property, Plant and Equipment		3,888			3,823
Goodwill		1,891			1,892
Intangible Assets		145			149
Other Assets		445			427
Total Assets	$	11,227		$	11,071
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current Liabilities:
Current debt	$	84		$	70
Accounts payable		1,358			1,264
Other current liabilities		932			1,040
Total Current Liabilities		2,374			2,374
Long-Term Debt		2,131			2,112
Deferred Income Taxes		420			424
Other Liabilities		493			476
Shareholders’ Equity:
Common stock ($0.10 par value):
Class A-authorized 900 million shares, issued 322 million shares		32			32
Convertible Class B-authorized 900 million shares, issued 70 million shares		7			7
Capital in excess of par value		2,259			2,261
Retained earnings		3,943			3,801
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(75	)		(79	)
Treasury stock, at cost – 23 million shares at December 31, 2011, and 22 million shares at October 1, 2011		(385	)		(365	)
Total Tyson Shareholders’ Equity		5,781			5,657
Noncontrolling Interest		28			28
Total Shareholders’ Equity		5,809			5,685
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$	11,227		$	11,071

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

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TYSON FOODS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In millions)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income	$	156		$	294
Depreciation and amortization		122			128
Deferred income taxes		24			39
Other, net		27			20
Net changes in working capital		9			(110	)
Cash Provided by Operating Activities		338			371
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment		(182	)		(158	)
Purchases of marketable securities		(8	)		(92	)
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities		11			13
Other, net		3			23
Cash Used for Investing Activities		(176	)		(214	)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Payments on debt		(25	)		(45	)
Net proceeds from borrowings		45			44
Purchases of Tyson Class A common stock		(50	)		(7	)
Dividends		(15	)		(15	)
Other, net		22			10
Cash Used for Financing Activities		(23	)		(13	)
Effect of Exchange Rate Change on Cash		2			0
Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents		141			144
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year		716			978
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	857		$	1,122

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

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TYSON FOODS, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

NOTE 1: ACCOUNTING POLICIES

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared by Tyson Foods, Inc. (“Tyson,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”). Certain information and accounting policies and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Although we believe the disclosures contained herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, these consolidated condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2011. Preparation of consolidated condensed financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated condensed financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

We believe the accompanying consolidated condensed financial statements contain all adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature, necessary to state fairly our financial position as of December 31, 2011, and the results of operations and cash flows for the three months ended December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011. Results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year.

CONSOLIDATION

The consolidated condensed financial statements include the accounts of all wholly-owned subsidiaries, as well as majority-owned subsidiaries over which we exercise control and, when applicable, entities for which we have a controlling financial interest or are the primary beneficiary. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

We have an investment in a joint venture, Dynamic Fuels LLC (Dynamic Fuels), in which we have a 50 percent ownership interest. Dynamic Fuels qualifies as a variable interest entity for which we consolidate as we are the primary beneficiary. At December 31, 2011, Dynamic Fuels had $177 million of total assets, of which $142 million was property, plant and equipment, and $126 million of total liabilities, of which $100 million was long-term debt. At October 1, 2011, Dynamic Fuels had $170 million of total assets, of which $144 million was property, plant and equipment, and $116 million of total liabilities, of which $100 million was long-term debt.

SHARE REPURCHASES

On May 11, 2011, we announced our Board of Directors reactivated a share repurchase program, which had no activity since fiscal 2005, to repurchase up to the remaining available 22.5 million shares of Class A common stock under the program. The share repurchase program has no fixed or scheduled termination date. During the three months ended December 31, 2011, we repurchased 1.8 million shares for approximately $35 million under this plan. As of December 31, 2011, 11 million shares remain authorized for repurchase. The timing and extent to which we repurchase shares will depend upon, among other things, market conditions, liquidity targets, limitations under our debt obligations and regulatory requirements. In addition to the share repurchase program, we purchase shares on the open market to fund certain obligations under our equity compensation plans. These repurchases totaled $15 million and $7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011, respectively.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In May 2011, the FASB clarified the guidance around fair value measurements and disclosures. This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. We will adopt this guidance in the second quarter of fiscal year 2012. We do not expect the adoption will have a significant impact on our consolidated condensed financial statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued guidance regarding the presentation of comprehensive income. This guidance is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. We anticipate we will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal year 2013. Upon adoption, we will be required to present comprehensive income as part of our consolidated condensed statements of income, or in a separate financial statement. Currently, we present such information in our notes to the consolidated condensed financial statements. Other than changing the presentation of comprehensive income, we do not expect the adoption will have a significant impact on our consolidated condensed financial statements.

In September 2011, the FASB issued guidance amending the way companies test for goodwill impairment. This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. We do not expect the adoption will have a significant impact on our consolidated condensed financial statements.

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In December 2011, the FASB issued guidance enhancing disclosures related to offsetting of certain assets and liabilities. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. We do not expect the adoption will have a significant impact on our consolidated condensed financial statements.

NOTE 2: INVENTORIES

Processed products, livestock and supplies and other are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost includes purchased raw materials, live purchase costs, growout costs (primarily feed, contract grower pay and catch and haul costs), labor and manufacturing and production overhead, which are related to the purchase and production of inventories. Total inventory consists of the following (in millions):

	December 31, 2011		October 1, 2011
Processed products:
Weighted-average method – chicken and prepared foods	$	714	$	715
First-in, first-out method – beef and pork		611		581
Livestock – first-in, first-out method		859		928
Supplies and other – weighted-average method		414		363
Total inventories	$	2,598	$	2,587

NOTE 3: PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

The major categories of property, plant and equipment and accumulated depreciation are as follows (in millions):

	December 31, 2011		October 1, 2011
Land	$	95	$	95
Buildings and leasehold improvements		2,732		2,698
Machinery and equipment		4,863		4,897
Land improvements and other		389		386
Buildings and equipment under construction		474		446
		8,553		8,522
Less accumulated depreciation		4,665		4,699
Net property, plant and equipment	$	3,888	$	3,823

NOTE 4: OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES

Other current liabilities are as follows (in millions):

	December 31, 2011		October 1, 2011
Accrued salaries, wages and benefits	$	275	$	407
Self-insurance reserves		287		298
Other		370		335
Total other current liabilities	$	932	$	1,040

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NOTE 5: DEBT

The major components of debt are as follows (in millions):

	December 31, 2011			October 1, 2011
Revolving credit facility	$	0		$	0
Senior notes:
3.25% Convertible senior notes due October 2013 (2013 Notes)		458			458
10.50% Senior notes due March 2014 (2014 Notes)		810			810
6.85% Senior notes due April 2016 (2016 Notes)		638			638
7.00% Notes due May 2018		120			120
7.00% Notes due January 2028		18			18
Discount on senior notes		(68	)		(76	)
GO Zone tax-exempt bonds due October 2033 (0.07% at 12/31/2011)		100			100
Other		139			114
Total debt		2,215			2,182
Less current debt		84			70
Total long-term debt	$	2,131		$	2,112

Revolving Credit Facility

We have a $1.0 billion revolving credit facility that supports short-term funding needs and letters of credit. This facility is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by substantially all of our domestic subsidiaries. The facility will mature and the commitments thereunder will terminate in February 2016, provided that (a) at any time during the six-month period ending November 29, 2013, we have corporate credit ratings not lower than BBB- and Baa3 from Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (S&P), and Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s), respectively, in each case with stable outlook or better, (b) on or prior to November 29, 2013, we have refinanced, purchased, or defeased the 2014 Notes, or (c) we have irrevocably deposited cash in an amount not less than the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding 2014 Notes on or prior to November 29, 2013, in a blocked cash collateral account. In the event none of the foregoing events have occurred, the loans made under this facility will mature and the commitments thereunder will terminate on November 29, 2013. As of December 31, 2011, none of the foregoing events have occurred.

After reducing the amount available by outstanding letters of credit issued under this facility, the amount available for borrowing under this facility at December 31, 2011, was $855 million. At December 31, 2011, we had outstanding letters of credit issued under this facility totaling $145 million, none of which were drawn upon. Our letters of credit are issued primarily in support of workers’ compensation insurance programs, derivative activities and Dynamic Fuels’ Gulf Opportunity Zone tax-exempt bonds. We had an additional $50 million of bilateral letters of credit not issued under this facility, none of which were drawn upon.

2013 Notes

In September 2008, we issued $458 million principal amount 3.25% convertible senior unsecured notes due October 15, 2013, with interest payable semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15. The conversion rate initially is 59.1935 shares of Class A stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of $16.89 per share of Class A stock. The 2013 Notes may be converted before the close of business on July 12, 2013, only under the following circumstances:

• during any fiscal quarter after December 27, 2008, if the last reported sale price of our Class A stock for at least 20 trading days during a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the preceding fiscal quarter is at least 130% of the applicable conversion price on each applicable trading day (which would currently require our shares to trade at or above $21.96); or

• during the five business days after any 10 consecutive trading days (measurement period) in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes for each trading day of the measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of our Class A stock and the applicable conversion rate on each such day; or

• upon the occurrence of specified corporate events as defined in the supplemental indenture.

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On and after July 15, 2013, until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, holders may convert their notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing circumstances. Upon conversion, we will deliver cash up to the aggregate principal amount of the 2013 Notes to be converted and shares of our Class A stock in respect of the remainder, if any, of our conversion obligation in excess of the aggregate principal amount of the 2013 Notes being converted. As of December 31, 2011, none of the conditions permitting conversion of the 2013 Notes had been satisfied.

The 2013 Notes were originally accounted for as a combined instrument because the conversion feature did not meet the requirements to be accounted for separately as a derivative financial instrument. However, we adopted new accounting guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2010 and applied it retrospectively to all periods presented. This new accounting guidance required us to separately account for the liability and equity conversion features. Upon retrospective adoption, our effective interest rate on the 2013 Notes was determined to be 8.26%, which resulted in the recognition of a $92 million discount to these notes with the offsetting after tax amount of $56 million recorded to capital in excess of par value. This discount is being accreted over the five-year term of the convertible notes at the effective interest rate.

In connection with the issuance of the 2013 Notes, we entered into separate convertible note hedge transactions with respect to our Class A stock to minimize the potential economic dilution upon conversion of the 2013 Notes. We also entered into separate warrant transactions. We recorded the purchase of the note hedge transactions as a reduction to capital in excess of par value, net of $36 million pertaining to the related deferred tax asset, and we recorded the proceeds of the warrant transactions as an increase to capital in excess of par value. Subsequent changes in fair value of these instruments are not recognized in the financial statements as long as the instruments continue to meet the criteria for equity classification.

We purchased call options in private transactions for $94 million that permit us to acquire up to approximately 27 million shares of our Class A stock at an initial strike price of $16.89 per share, subject to adjustment. The call options allow us to acquire a number of shares of our Class A stock initially equal to the number of shares of Class A stock issuable to the holders of the 2013 Notes upon conversion. These call options will terminate upon the maturity of the 2013 Notes.

We sold warrants in private transactions for total proceeds of $44 million. The warrants permit the purchasers to acquire up to approximately 27 million shares of our Class A stock at an initial exercise price of $22.31 per share, subject to adjustment. The warrants are exercisable on various dates from January 2014 through March 2014.

The maximum amount of shares that may be issued to satisfy the conversion of the 2013 Notes is limited to 35.9 million shares. However, the convertible note hedge and warrant transactions, in effect, increase the initial conversion price of the 2013 Notes from $16.89 per share to $22.31 per share, thus reducing the potential future economic dilution associated with conversion of the 2013 Notes. If our share price is below $22.31 upon conversion of the 2013 Notes, there is no economic net share impact. Upon conversion, a 10% increase in our share price above the $22.31 conversion price would result in the issuance of 2.5 million incremental shares. The 2013 Notes and the warrants could have a dilutive effect on our earnings per share to the extent the price of our Class A stock during a given measurement period exceeds the respective exercise prices of those instruments. The call options are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share as their impact is anti-dilutive.

2016 Notes

The 2016 Notes carried an interest rate at issuance of 6.60%, with an interest step up feature dependent on their credit rating. On February 24, 2011, S&P upgraded the credit rating of these notes from “BB+” to “BBB-.” On March 29, 2011, Moody’s upgraded the credit rating of these notes from “Ba2” to “Ba1”. These upgrades decreased the interest rate on the 2016 Notes from 7.35% to 6.85%, effective beginning with the six-month interest payment due April 1, 2011.

GO Zone Tax-Exempt Bonds

In October 2008, Dynamic Fuels received $100 million in proceeds from the sale of Gulf Opportunity Zone tax-exempt bonds made available by the federal government to the regions affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. These floating rate bonds are due October 1, 2033. In November 2008, we entered into an interest rate swap related to these bonds to mitigate our interest rate risk on a portion of the bonds for five years. We also issued a letter of credit as a guarantee for the entire bond issuance.

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Debt Covenants

Our revolving credit facility contains affirmative and negative covenants that, among other things, may limit or restrict our ability to: create liens and encumbrances; incur debt; merge, dissolve, liquidate or consolidate; make acquisitions and investments; dispose of or transfer assets; pay dividends or make other payments in respect of our capital stock; amend material documents; change the nature of our business; make certain payments of debt; engage in certain transactions with affiliates; and enter into sale/leaseback or hedging transactions, in each case, subject to certain qualifications and exceptions. In addition, we are required to maintain minimum interest expense coverage and maximum leverage ratios.

Our 2014 Notes also contain affirmative and negative covenants that, among other things, may limit or restrict our ability to: incur additional debt and issue preferred stock; make certain investments and restricted payments; create liens; create restrictions on distributions from subsidiaries; engage in specified sales of assets and subsidiary stock; enter into transactions with affiliates; enter new lines of business; engage in consolidation, mergers and acquisitions; and engage in certain sale/leaseback transactions.

We were in compliance with all debt covenants at December 31, 2011.

NOTE 6: INCOME TAXES

The effective tax rate was 35.8% and 34.0% for the first quarter of fiscal years 2012 and 2011, respectively. The effective tax rate for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 was impacted by such items as the domestic production deduction and state income taxes.

Unrecognized tax benefits were $173 million and $174 million at December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, respectively. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, that would impact our effective tax rate was $154 million and $155 million at December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, respectively.

We classify interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. At December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, before tax benefits, we had $58 million of accrued interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits.

We are subject to income tax examinations for U.S. federal income taxes for fiscal years 2003 through 2010, and for foreign, state and local income taxes for fiscal years 2001 through 2010. Within the next twelve months, tax audit resolutions could reduce unrecognized tax benefits by approximately $10 million, either because tax positions are sustained on audit or because we agree to their disallowance.

NOTE 7: OTHER INCOME AND CHARGES

During the first quarter of fiscal 2012, we recorded $6 million of equity earnings in joint ventures and $5 million in net foreign currency exchange gains, which were recorded in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income in Other, net.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2011, we recorded an $11 million gain related to a sale of interests in an equity method investment. This gain was recorded in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income in Other, net.

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NOTE 8: EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in millions, except per share data):

	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011		January 1, 2011
Numerator:
Net income	$	156	$	294
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		0		(4	)
Net income attributable to Tyson		156		298
Less Dividends:
Class A ($0.040/share)		12		12
Class B ($0.036/share)		3		3
Undistributed earnings	$	141	$	283
Class A undistributed earnings	$	117	$	234
Class B undistributed earnings		24		49
Total undistributed earnings	$	141	$	283
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per share:
Class A weighted average shares		297		304
Class B weighted average shares, and shares under the if-converted method for diluted earnings per share		70		70
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and restricted stock		5		5
Convertible 2013 Notes		4		0
Denominator for diluted earnings per share – adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions		376		379
Net Income Per Share Attributable to Tyson:
Class A Basic	$	0.43	$	0.81
Class B Basic	$	0.39	$	0.73
Diluted	$	0.42	$	0.78

Approximately 4 million of our stock-based compensation shares were antidilutive for both the three months ended December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011. These shares were not included in the dilutive earnings per share calculation.

We have two classes of capital stock, Class A stock and Class B stock. Cash dividends cannot be paid to holders of Class B stock unless they are simultaneously paid to holders of Class A stock. The per share amount of cash dividends paid to holders of Class B stock cannot exceed 90% of the cash dividends paid to holders of Class A stock.

We allocate undistributed earnings based upon a 1 to 0.9 ratio per share to Class A stock and Class B stock, respectively. We allocate undistributed earnings based on this ratio due to historical dividend patterns, voting control of Class B shareholders and contractual limitations of dividends to Class B stock.

NOTE 9: DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Our business operations give rise to certain market risk exposures mostly due to changes in commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. We manage a portion of these risks through the use of derivative financial instruments, primarily futures and options, to reduce our exposure to commodity price risk, foreign currency risk and interest rate risk. Forward contracts on various commodities, including grains, livestock and energy, are primarily entered into to manage the price risk associated with forecasted purchases of these inputs used in our production processes. Foreign exchange forward contracts are entered into to manage the fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, primarily as a result of certain receivable and payable balances. We also periodically utilize interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risk associated with our variable-rate borrowings.

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Our risk management programs are periodically reviewed by our Board of Directors’ Audit Committee. These programs are monitored by senior management and may be revised as market conditions dictate. Our current risk management programs utilize industry-standard models that take into account the implicit cost of hedging. Risks associated with our market risks and those created by derivative instruments and the fair values are strictly monitored at all times, using Value-at-Risk and stress tests. Credit risks associated with our derivative contracts are not significant as we minimize counterparty concentrations, utilize margin accounts or letters of credit, and deal with credit-worthy counterparties. Additionally, our derivative contracts are mostly short-term in duration and we generally do not make use of credit-risk-related contingent features. No significant concentrations of credit risk existed at December 31, 2011.

We recognize all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets, with the exception of normal purchases and normal sales expected to result in physical delivery. The accounting for changes in the fair value (i.e., gains or losses) of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and the type of hedging relationship. For those derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, we designate the hedging instrument based upon the exposure being hedged (i.e., fair value hedge, cash flow hedge, or hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation). We qualify, or designate, a derivative financial instrument as a hedge when contract terms closely mirror those of the hedged item, providing a high degree of risk reduction and correlation. If a derivative instrument is accounted for as a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the instrument either will be offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities or firm commitments through earnings, or be recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) (OCI) until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of an instrument’s change in fair value is recognized in earnings immediately. We designate certain forward and option contracts as follows:

• Cash Flow Hedges – include certain commodity forward and option contracts of forecasted purchases (i.e., grains) and certain foreign exchange forward contracts.

• Fair Value Hedges – include certain commodity forward contracts of forecasted purchases (i.e., livestock).

• Net Investment Hedges – include certain foreign currency forward contracts of permanently invested capital in certain foreign subsidiaries.

Cash flow hedges

Derivative instruments, such as futures and options, are designated as hedges against changes in the amount of future cash flows related to procurement of certain commodities utilized in our production processes. We do not purchase forward and option commodity contracts in excess of our physical consumption requirements and generally do not hedge forecasted transactions beyond 18 months. The objective of these hedges is to reduce the variability of cash flows associated with the forecasted purchase of those commodities. For the derivative instruments we designate and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of OCI and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Gains and losses representing hedge ineffectiveness are recognized in earnings in the current period. Ineffectiveness related to our cash flow hedges was not significant for the three months ended December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011.

We had the following aggregated notionals of outstanding forward and option contracts accounted for as cash flow hedges:

	Metric		December 31, 2011		October 1, 2011
Commodity:
Corn		Bushels		7 million		6 million
Soy meal		Tons		22,200		82,300
Foreign Currency		United States dollar	$	22 million	$	75 million

As of December 31, 2011, the net amounts expected to be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months are pretax losses of $13 million related to grain. Pretax losses expected to be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months related to foreign currency are not significant as of December 31, 2011. During the three months ended December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011, we did not reclassify significant pretax gains/losses into earnings as a result of the discontinuance of cash flow hedges due to the probability the original forecasted transaction would not occur by the end of the originally specified time period or within the additional period of time allowed by generally accepted accounting principles.

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The following table sets forth the pretax impact of cash flow hedge derivative instruments on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income (in millions):

	Gain/(Loss) Recognized in OCI On Derivatives					Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income Classification		Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from OCI to Earnings
	Three Months Ended							Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011				December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Cash Flow Hedge – Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts	$	2		$	25		Cost of Sales	$	(6	)	$	20
Foreign exchange contracts		(5	)		0		Other Income/Expense		5			0
Total	$	(3	)	$	25			$	(1	)	$	20

Fair value hedges

We designate certain futures contracts as fair value hedges of firm commitments to purchase livestock for slaughter. Our objective of these hedges is to minimize the risk of changes in fair value created by fluctuations in commodity prices associated with fixed price livestock firm commitments. We had the following aggregated notionals of outstanding forward contracts entered into to hedge forecasted commodity purchases which are accounted for as a fair value hedge:

	Metric		December 31, 2011		October 1, 2011
Commodity:
Live Cattle		Pounds		281 million		318 million
Lean Hogs		Pounds		566 million		601 million

For these derivative instruments we designate and qualify as a fair value hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative, as well as the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk, are recognized in earnings in the same period. We include the gain or loss on the hedged items (i.e., livestock purchase firm commitments) in the same line item, Cost of Sales, as the offsetting gain or loss on the related livestock forward position.

						in millions
	Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income Classification		December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Gain/(Loss) on forwards		Cost of Sales	$	(8	)	$	(1	)
Gain/(Loss) on purchase contract		Cost of Sales		8			1

Ineffectiveness related to our fair value hedges was not significant for the three months ended December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011.

Foreign net investment hedges

We utilize forward foreign exchange contracts to protect the value of our net investments in certain foreign subsidiaries. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a hedge of a net investment in a foreign currency, the gain or loss is reported in OCI as part of the cumulative translation adjustment to the extent it is effective, with the related amounts due to or from counterparties included in other liabilities or other assets. We utilize the forward-rate method of assessing hedge effectiveness. Any ineffective portions of net investment hedges are recognized in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income during the period of change. Ineffectiveness related to our foreign net investment hedges was not significant for the three months ended December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011. At both December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, we had $35 million aggregate outstanding notionals related to our forward foreign currency contracts accounted for as foreign net investment hedges.

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The following table sets forth the pretax impact of these derivative instruments on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income (in millions):

	Gain/(Loss) Recognized in OCI On Derivatives						Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income Classification		Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from OCI to Earnings
	Three Months Ended								Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011					December 31, 2011		January 1, 2011
Net Investment Hedge – Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Foreign exchange contracts	$	(1	)	$	(1	)		Other Income/Expense	$	0	$	0

Undesignated positions

In addition to our designated positions, we also hold forward and option contracts for which we do not apply hedge accounting. These include certain derivative instruments related to commodities price risk, including grains, livestock and energy, foreign currency risk and interest rate risk. We mark these positions to fair value through earnings at each reporting date. We generally do not enter into undesignated positions beyond 18 months.

The objective of our undesignated grains, energy and livestock commodity positions is to reduce the variability of cash flows associated with the forecasted purchase of certain grains, energy and livestock inputs to our production processes. We also enter into certain forward sales of boxed beef and boxed pork and forward purchases of cattle and hogs at fixed prices. The fixed price sales contracts lock in the proceeds from a sale in the future and the fixed cattle and hog purchases lock in the cost. However, the cost of the livestock and the related boxed beef and boxed pork market prices at the time of the sale or purchase could vary from this fixed price. As we enter into fixed forward sales of boxed beef and boxed pork and forward purchases of cattle and hogs, we also enter into the appropriate number of livestock futures positions to mitigate a portion of this risk. Changes in market value of the open livestock futures positions are marked to market and reported in earnings at each reporting date, even though the economic impact of our fixed prices being above or below the market price is only realized at the time of sale or purchase. These positions generally do not qualify for hedge treatment due to location basis differences between the commodity exchanges and the actual locations when we purchase the commodities.

We have a foreign currency cash flow hedging program to hedge portions of forecasted transactions denominated in foreign currencies, primarily with forward and option contracts, to protect against the reduction in value of forecasted foreign currency cash flows. Our undesignated foreign currency positions generally would qualify for cash flow hedge accounting. However, to reduce earnings volatility, we normally will not elect hedge accounting treatment when the position provides an offset to the underlying related transaction that currently impacts earnings.

The objective of our undesignated interest rate swap is to manage interest rate risk exposure on a floating-rate bond. Our interest rate swap agreement effectively modifies our exposure to interest rate risk by converting a portion of the floating-rate bond to a fixed rate basis for the first five years, thus reducing the impact of the interest-rate changes on future interest expense. This interest rate swap does not qualify for hedge treatment due to differences in the underlying bond and swap contract interest-rate indices.

We had the following aggregate outstanding notionals related to our undesignated positions:

	Metric		December 31, 2011		October 1, 2011
Commodity:
Corn		Bushels		13 million		17 million
Soy Meal		Tons		85,800		174,600
Soy Oil		Pounds		0		13 million
Live Cattle		Pounds		46 million		72 million
Lean Hogs		Pounds		138 million		19 million
Foreign Currency		United States dollars	$	132 million	$	110 million
Interest Rate		Average monthly notional debt	$	36 million	$	39 million

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The following table sets forth the pretax impact of the undesignated derivative instruments on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income (in millions):

	Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income Classification		Gain/(Loss) Recognized in Earnings
			Three Months Ended
			December  31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts		Sales	$	(3	)	$	14
Commodity contracts		Cost of Sales		29			21
Foreign exchange contracts		Other Income/Expense		3			(1	)
Total			$	29		$	34

The following table sets forth the fair value of all derivative instruments outstanding in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (in millions):

	Fair Value
	December 31, 2011		October 1, 2011
Derivative Assets:
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts	$	26	$	3
Foreign exchange contracts		1		12
Total derivative assets – designated		27		15
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts		14		21
Foreign exchange contracts		1		5
Total derivative assets – not designated		15		26
Total derivative assets	$	42	$	41
Derivative Liabilities:
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts	$	8	$	41
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts		54		121
Foreign exchange contracts		1		1
Interest rate contracts		1		2
Total derivative liabilities – not designated		56		124
Total derivative liabilities	$	64	$	165

Our derivative assets and liabilities are presented in our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets on a net basis. We net derivative assets and liabilities, including cash collateral when a legally enforceable master netting arrangement exists between the counterparty to a derivative contract and us. See Note 10: Fair Value Measurements for a reconciliation to amounts reported in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets in Other current assets and Other current liabilities.

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NOTE 10: FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy contains three levels as follows:

Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices available in active markets for the identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.

Level 2 — Other observable inputs available at the measurement date, other than quoted prices included in Level 1, either directly or indirectly, including:

• Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;

• Quoted prices for identical or similar assets in non-active markets;

• Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and

• Inputs derived principally from or corroborated by other observable market data.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that cannot be corroborated by observable market data and reflect the use of significant management judgment. These values are generally determined using pricing models for which the assumptions utilize management’s estimates of market participant assumptions.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The fair value hierarchy requires the use of observable market data when available. In instances where the inputs used to measure fair value fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the fair value measurement has been determined based on the lowest level input significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Our assessment of the significance of a particular item to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, including the consideration of inputs specific to the asset or liability. The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy our financial assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis according to the valuation techniques we used to determine their fair values (in millions):

December 31, 2011	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Netting (a)			Total
Assets:
Commodity Derivatives	$	0	$	40	$	0	$	(30	)	$	10
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts		0		2		0		0			2
Available for Sale Securities:
Debt securities		0		33		84		0			117
Equity securities		8		0		0		0			8
Deferred Compensation Assets		28		130		0		0			158
Total Assets	$	36	$	205	$	84	$	(30	)	$	295
Liabilities:
Commodity Derivatives	$	0	$	62	$	0	$	(61	)	$	1
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts		0		1		0		(1	)		0
Interest Rate Swap		0		1		0		0			1
Total Liabilities	$	0	$	64	$	0	$	(62	)	$	2

October 1, 2011	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Netting (a)			Total
Assets:
Commodity Derivatives	$	0	$	24	$	0	$	(21	)	$	3
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts		0		17		0		(2	)		15
Available for Sale Securities:
Debt securities		0		34		83		0			117
Equity securities		7		0		0		0			7
Deferred Compensation Assets		28		122		0		0			150
Total Assets	$	35	$	197	$	83	$	(23	)	$	292
Liabilities:
Commodity Derivatives	$	0	$	162	$	0	$	(135	)	$	27
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts		0		1		0		(1	)		0
Interest Rate Swap		0		2		0		0			2
Total Liabilities	$	0	$	165	$	0	$	(136	)	$	29

(a) Our derivative assets and liabilities are presented in our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets on a net basis. We net derivative assets and liabilities, including cash collateral, when a legally enforceable master netting arrangement exists between the counterparty to a derivative contract and us. At December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, we had posted with various counterparties $32 million and $113 million, respectively, of cash collateral and held no cash collateral.

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The following table provides a reconciliation between the beginning and ending balance of debt securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the table above that used significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) (in millions):

	Three months ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Balance at beginning of year	$	83		$	73
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in earnings		1			0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss)		(2	)		0
Purchases		6			2
Issuances		0			0
Settlements		(4	)		(4	)
Balance at end of period	$	84		$	71
Total gains (losses) for the three-month period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets and liabilities still held at end of period	$	0		$	0

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument:

Derivative Assets and Liabilities: Our derivatives, including commodities, foreign exchange contracts and an interest rate swap, primarily include exchange-traded and over-the-counter contracts which are further described in Note 9: Derivative Financial Instruments. We record our commodity derivatives at fair value using quoted market prices adjusted for credit and non-performance risk and internal models that use as their basis readily observable market inputs including current and forward commodity market prices. Our foreign exchange forward contracts are recorded at fair value based on quoted prices and spot and forward currency prices adjusted for credit and non-performance risk. Our interest rate swap is recorded at fair value based on quoted LIBOR swap rates adjusted for credit and non-performance risk. We classify these instruments in Level 2 when quoted market prices can be corroborated utilizing observable current and forward commodity market prices on active exchanges, observable market transactions of spot currency rates and forward currency prices or observable benchmark market rates at commonly quoted intervals.

Available for Sale Securities: Our investments in marketable debt securities are classified as available-for-sale and are included in Other Assets in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets. These investments, which are generally long-term in nature with maturities ranging up to 36 years, are reported at fair value based on pricing models and quoted market prices adjusted for credit and non-performance risk. We classify our investments in U.S. government and agency debt securities as Level 2 as fair value is generally estimated using discounted cash flow models that are primarily industry-standard models that consider various assumptions, including time value and yield curve as well as other readily available relevant economic measures. We classify certain corporate, asset-backed and other debt securities as Level 3 as there is limited activity or less observable inputs into proprietary valuation models, including estimated prepayment, default and recovery rates on the underlying portfolio or structured investment vehicle.

Additionally, we have eight million shares of Syntroleum Corporation common stock and 4.25 million warrants, which expire in early fiscal 2014, to purchase an equivalent amount of Syntroleum Corporation common stock at an average price of $2.87. We record the shares and warrants in Other Assets in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets at fair value based on quoted market prices. We classify the shares as Level 1 as the fair value is based on unadjusted quoted prices available in active markets. We classify the warrants as Level 2 as fair value can be corroborated based on observable market data.

(in millions)	December 31, 2011							October 1, 2011
	Amortized Cost Basis		Fair Value		Unrealized Gain/(Loss)			Amortized Cost Basis		Fair Value		Unrealized Gain/(Loss)
Available for Sale Securities:
Debt Securities:
U.S. Treasury and Agency	$	32	$	33	$	1		$	33	$	34	$	1
Corporate and Asset-Backed (a)		56		56		0			54		56		2
Redeemable Preferred Stock		28		28		0			27		27		0
Equity Securities:
Common Stock		9		8		(1	)		9		7		(2	)

(a) At December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, the amortized cost basis for Corporate and Asset-Backed debt securities had been reduced by accumulated other than temporary impairments of $2 million and $3 million, respectively.

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Unrealized holding gains (losses), net of tax, are excluded from earnings and reported in OCI until the security is settled or sold. On a quarterly basis, we evaluate whether losses related to our available-for-sale securities are temporary in nature. Losses on equity securities are recognized in earnings if the decline in value is judged to be other than temporary. If losses related to our debt securities are determined to be other than temporary, the loss would be recognized in earnings if we intend, or more likely than not will be required, to sell the security prior to recovery. For debt securities in which we have the intent and ability to hold until maturity, losses determined to be other than temporary would remain in OCI, other than expected credit losses which are recognized in earnings. We consider many factors in determining whether a loss is temporary, including the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been below cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer and our ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery. We recognized no other than temporary impairments in earnings for the three month periods ending December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011. No other than temporary losses were deferred in OCI as of December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011.

Deferred Compensation Assets: We maintain non-qualified deferred compensation plans for certain executives and other highly compensated employees. Investments are maintained within a trust and include money market funds, mutual funds and life insurance policies. The cash surrender value of the life insurance policies is invested primarily in mutual funds. The investments are recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices and are included in Other Assets in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets. We classify the investments which have observable market prices in active markets in Level 1 as these are generally publicly-traded mutual funds. The remaining deferred compensation assets are classified in Level 2, as fair value can be corroborated based on observable market data. Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on deferred compensation are included in earnings.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

In addition to assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, we record assets and liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Generally, assets are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as a result of impairment charges. We did not have any significant measurements of assets or liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis subsequent to their initial recognition during the three months ended December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011.

Other Financial Instruments

Fair values for debt are based on quoted market prices or published forward interest rate curves. Fair value and carrying value for our debt were as follows (in millions):

	December 31, 2011				October 1, 2011
	Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value
Total Debt	$	2,371	$	2,215	$	2,334	$	2,182

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NOTE 11: COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The components of comprehensive income are as follows (in millions):

	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Net income	$	156		$	294
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Net hedging unrealized (gain) loss reclassified to earnings		1			(13	)
Net hedging unrealized gain (loss)		(2	)		12
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments		1			(2	)
Currency translation adjustment		3			(5	)
Postretirement benefits reserve adjustments		1			0
Total comprehensive income		160			286
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		0			(4	)
Total comprehensive income attributable to Tyson	$	160		$	290

The related tax effects allocated to the components of comprehensive income are as follows (in millions):

	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Income tax expense (benefit):
Net hedging unrealized loss reclassified to earnings	$	0		$	(7	)
Net hedging unrealized gain (loss)		(1	)		13
Unrealized gain on investments		1			0
Total income tax expense	$	0		$	6

NOTE 12: SEGMENT REPORTING

We operate in four segments: Chicken, Beef, Pork and Prepared Foods. We measure segment profit as operating income (loss).

Chicken: Chicken operations include breeding and raising chickens, as well as processing live chickens into fresh, frozen and value-added chicken products and logistics operations to move products through the supply chain. Products are marketed domestically to food retailers, foodservice distributors, restaurant operators, hotel chains and noncommercial foodservice establishments such as schools, healthcare facilities, the military and other food processors, as well as to international markets. It also includes sales from allied products and our chicken breeding stock subsidiary.

Beef: Beef operations include processing live fed cattle and fabricating dressed beef carcasses into primal and sub-primal meat cuts and case-ready products. This segment also includes sales from allied products such as hides and variety meats, as well as logistics operations to move products through the supply chain. Products are marketed domestically to food retailers, foodservice distributors, restaurant operators, hotel chains and noncommercial foodservice establishments such as schools, healthcare facilities, the military and other food processors, as well as to international markets. Allied products are marketed to manufacturers of pharmaceuticals and technical products.

Pork: Pork operations include processing live market hogs and fabricating pork carcasses into primal and sub-primal cuts and case-ready products. This segment also includes our live swine group, related allied product processing activities and logistics operations to move products through the supply chain. Products are marketed domestically to food retailers, foodservice distributors, restaurant operators, hotel chains and noncommercial foodservice establishments such as schools, healthcare facilities, the military and other food processors, as well as to international markets. We sell allied products to pharmaceutical and technical products manufacturers, as well as a limited number of live swine to pork processors.

Prepared Foods: Prepared Foods operations include manufacturing and marketing frozen and refrigerated food products and logistics operations to move products through the supply chain. Products include pepperoni, bacon, beef and pork pizza toppings, pizza crusts, flour and corn tortilla products, appetizers, prepared meals, ethnic foods, soups, sauces, side dishes, meat dishes and processed meats. Products are marketed domestically to food retailers, foodservice distributors, restaurant operators, hotel chains and noncommercial foodservice establishments such as schools, healthcare facilities, the military and other food processors, as well as to international markets.

The results from Dynamic Fuels are included in Other.

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Information on segments and a reconciliation to income before income taxes are as follows (in millions):

	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Sales:
Chicken	$	2,762		$	2,619
Beef		3,467			3,185
Pork		1,475			1,238
Prepared Foods		861			806
Other		54			8
Intersegment Sales		(290	)		(241	)
Total Sales	$	8,329		$	7,615
Operating Income (Loss):
Chicken	$	32		$	181
Beef		31			116
Pork		165			177
Prepared Foods		51			28
Other		(1	)		(4	)
Total Operating Income		278			498
Total Other (Income) Expense		35			53	(a)
Income before Income Taxes	$	243		$	445

(a) Includes $11 million gain related to a sale of interests in an equity method investment.

The Beef segment had sales of $64 million and $50 million in the first quarter of fiscal years 2012 and 2011, respectively, from transactions with other operating segments of the Company and Dynamic Fuels. The Pork segment had sales of $226 million and $191 million in the first quarter of fiscal years 2012 and 2011, respectively, from transactions with other operating segments of the Company. The aforementioned sales from intersegment transactions, which were at market prices, were included in the segment sales in the above table.

NOTE 13: COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments

We guarantee obligations of certain outside third parties, which consists of a lease and grower loans, all of which are substantially collateralized by the underlying assets. Terms of the underlying debt cover periods up to ten years, and the maximum potential amount of future payments as of December 31, 2011, was $73 million. We also maintain operating leases for various types of equipment, some of which contain residual value guarantees for the market value of the underlying leased assets at the end of the term of the lease. The remaining terms of the lease maturities cover periods over the next seven years. The maximum potential amount of the residual value guarantees is $51 million, of which $43 million would be recoverable through various recourse provisions and an additional undeterminable recoverable amount based on the fair value of the underlying leased assets. The likelihood of material payments under these guarantees is not considered probable. At December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, no material liabilities for guarantees were recorded.

We have cash flow assistance programs in which certain livestock suppliers participate. Under these programs, we pay an amount for livestock equivalent to a standard cost to grow such livestock during periods of low market sales prices. The amounts of such payments that are in excess of the market sales price are recorded as receivables and accrue interest. Participating suppliers are obligated to repay these receivables balances when market sales prices exceed this standard cost, or upon termination of the agreement. Our maximum obligation associated with these programs is limited to the fair value of each participating livestock supplier’s net tangible assets. The potential maximum obligation as of December 31, 2011, was approximately $220 million. The total receivables under these programs were $25 million and $28 million at December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, respectively, and are included, net of allowance for uncollectible amounts, in Other Assets in our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets. Even though these programs are limited to the net tangible assets of the participating livestock suppliers, we also manage a portion of our credit risk associated with these programs by obtaining security interests in livestock suppliers’ assets. After analyzing residual credit risks and general market conditions, we have recorded an allowance for these programs’ estimated uncollectible receivables of $9 million and $10 million at December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, respectively.

20

Contingencies

We are involved in various claims and legal proceedings. We routinely assess the likelihood of adverse judgments or outcomes to those matters, as well as ranges of probable losses, to the extent losses are reasonably estimable. We record accruals for such matters to the extent that we conclude a loss is probable and the financial impact, should an adverse outcome occur, is reasonably estimable. Such accruals are reflected in the Company’s consolidated condensed financial statements. In our opinion, we have made appropriate and adequate accruals for these matters and believe the probability of a material loss beyond the amounts accrued to be remote; however, the ultimate liability for these matters is uncertain, and if accruals are not adequate, an adverse outcome could have a material effect on the consolidated condensed financial condition or results of operations. Listed below are certain claims made against the Company and/or our subsidiaries for which the potential exposure is considered material to the Company’s consolidated condensed financial statements. We believe we have substantial defenses to the claims made and intend to vigorously defend these matters.

Several private lawsuits are pending against us alleging that we failed to compensate poultry plant employees for all hours worked, including overtime compensation, in violation of the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA). These lawsuits include DeAsencio v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (DeAsencio), filed on August 22, 2000, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. This matter involves similar allegations that employees should be paid for the time it takes to engage in pre- and post-shift activities such as changing into and out of protective and sanitary clothing, obtaining clothing and walking to and from the changing area, work areas and break areas. They seek back wages, liquidated damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, and attorneys’ fees. Plaintiffs appealed a jury verdict and final judgment entered in our favor on June 22, 2006, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. On September 7, 2007, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reversed the jury verdict and remanded the case to the District Court for further proceedings. We sought rehearing en banc, which was denied by the Court of Appeals on October 5, 2007. The United States Supreme Court denied our petition for a writ of certiorari on June 9, 2008. The new trial date has not been set.

The other private lawsuits referred to above are Sheila Ackles, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (N. Dist. Alabama, October 23, 2006); McCluster, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (M. Dist. Georgia, December 11, 2006); Dobbins, et al. v. Tyson Chicken, Inc., et al. (N.D. Alabama, December 21, 2006); Buchanan, et al. v. Tyson Chicken, Inc., et al. and Potter, et al. v. Tyson Chicken, Inc., et al. (N.D. Alabama, December 22, 2006); Jones, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., Walton, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al. and Williams, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al. (S.D. Mississippi, February 9, 2007); Balch, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (E.D. Oklahoma, March 1, 2007); Adams, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (W.D. Arkansas, March 2, 2007); Atkins, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (M.D. Georgia, March 5, 2007); Laney, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. and Williams, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (M.D. Georgia, May 23, 2007) (the Williams Case). Similar to DeAsencio, each of these matters involves allegations that employees should be paid for the time it takes to engage in pre- and post-shift activities such as changing into and out of protective and sanitary clothing, obtaining clothing and walking to and from the changing area, work areas and break areas. The plaintiffs in each of these lawsuits seek or have sought to act as class representatives on behalf of all current and former employees who were allegedly not paid for time worked and seek back wages, liquidated damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, and attorneys’ fees. On April 6, 2007, we filed a motion for transfer of the above named actions for coordinated pretrial proceedings before the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, which was granted on August 17, 2007. These cases and five other cases subsequently filed involving the same allegations (i.e., Armstrong, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (W.D. Tennessee, January 30, 2008); Maldonado, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (E.D. Tennessee, January 31, 2008); White, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (E.D. Texas, February 1, 2008); Meyer, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (W.D. Missouri, February 2, 2008); and Leak, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (W.D. North Carolina, February 6, 2008)), were transferred to the U.S. District Court in the Middle District of Georgia, In re: Tyson Foods, Inc., Fair Labor Standards Act Litigation (MDL Proceedings). On September 2, 2011, the parties executed a settlement agreement and filed a joint motion with the court seeking its approval of the settlement. The court approved the settlement on September 15, 2011, and Tyson will pay at least $12.25 million but no more than $17.5 million in back pay and damages to eligible class members. The settlement agreement provides a process for identifying and certifying eligible class members, which includes a 75-day notice period for certain class members to become eligible for payment under the settlement. In addition, the settlement agreement provides that plaintiffs’ attorneys must file an application for fees with the court but that no more than $14.5 million in attorneys’ fees and costs will be paid. Plaintiffs’ attorneys filed their fee application, which was approved on January 23, 2012.

We have pending twelve separate wage and hour actions involving Tyson Fresh Meats Inc.’s plants located in Lexington, Nebraska (Lopez, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., D. Nebraska, June 30, 2006), Garden City and Emporia, Kansas (Garcia, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., D. Kansas, May 15, 2006), Storm Lake, Iowa (Bouaphakeo (f/k/a Sharp), et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., N.D. Iowa, February 6, 2007), Columbus Junction, Iowa (Guyton (f/k/a Robinson), et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., d.b.a Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., S.D. Iowa, September 12, 2007), Joslin, Illinois (Murray, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., C.D. Illinois, January 2, 2008; and DeVoss v. Tyson Foods, Inc. d.b.a. Tyson Fresh Meats, C.D. Illinois, March 2, 2011), Dakota City, Nebraska (Gomez, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., D. Nebraska, January 16, 2008), Madison, Nebraska (Acosta, et al. v Tyson Foods, Inc. d.b.a Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., D. Nebraska, February 29, 2008), Perry and Waterloo, Iowa (Edwards, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. d.b.a Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., S.D.

21

Iowa, March 20, 2008); Council Bluffs, Iowa (Maxwell (f/k/a Salazar), et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. d.b.a. Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., S.D. Iowa, April 29, 2008); Logansport, Indiana (Carter, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. and Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., N.D. Indiana, April 29, 2008); and Goodlettsville, Tennessee (Abadeer v. Tyson Foods, Inc., and Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., M.D. Tennessee, February 6, 2009). The actions allege we failed to pay employees for all hours worked, including overtime compensation for the time it takes to change into protective work uniforms, safety equipment and other sanitary and protective clothing worn by employees, and for walking to and from the changing area, work areas and break areas in violation of the FLSA and analogous state laws. The plaintiffs seek back wages, liquidated damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, attorneys’ fees and costs. Each case is proceeding in its jurisdiction.

• After a trial in the Garcia case, a jury verdict in favor of the plaintiffs was entered on March 17, 2011, with respect to the Garden City, Kansas facility. Exclusive of pre- and post-judgment interest, attorneys’ fees and costs, the jury found violations of federal and state laws for pre- and post-shift work activities and awarded damages in the amount of $503,011, respectively. Plaintiffs’ counsel has filed an application for attorneys’ fees and expenses in the amount of $3,475,422. We contested the application and are currently evaluating our appeal options.

• A jury trial was held in the Lopez case, which involved the Lexington, NE beef plant, and resulted in a jury verdict in favor of Tyson. Judgment was entered and the complaint was dismissed with prejudice, on May 26, 2011. Plaintiffs filed an appeal with the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals on June 16, 2011.

• A jury trial was held in the Bouaphakeo case, which involved the Storm Lake, Iowa pork plant and resulted in a jury verdict in favor of the plaintiffs on September 26, 2011. Exclusive of pre- and post-judgment interest, attorneys’ fees and costs, the jury found violations of federal and state laws for pre- and post-shift work activities and awarded damages in the amount of $2,892,379. On October 24, 2011, we renewed our motion for judgment as a matter of law due to a failure of class-wide proof and, in the alternative, for a new trial on damages.

• The Guyton, Maxwell, Acosta, and Gomez cases are scheduled for trials on April 9, 2012, October 22, 2012, January 14, 2013, and March 18, 2013, respectively.

We have pending one wage and hour action involving our Tyson Prepared Foods plant located in Jefferson, Wisconsin (Weissman, et al. v. Tyson Prepared Foods, Inc., Jefferson County (Wisconsin) Circuit Court, October 20, 2010). The plaintiffs allege that employees should be paid for the time it takes to engage in pre- and post-shift activities such as changing into and out of protective and sanitary clothing and the associated time it takes to walk to and from their workstations post-donning and pre-doffing of protective and sanitary clothing. Six named plaintiffs seek to act as state law class representatives on behalf of all current and former employees who were allegedly not paid for time worked and seek back wages, liquidated damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, and attorneys’ fees and costs. On May 16, 2011, Plaintiffs filed a motion to certify a state law class of all hourly employees who have worked at the Jefferson plant from October 20, 2008, to the present. We have filed motions for summary judgment seeking dismissal of the claims, or, in the alternative, to limit the claims made for non-compensable clothes changing activities.

On June 19, 2005, the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Environment of the State of Oklahoma filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma against us, three of our subsidiaries and six other poultry integrators. This complaint was subsequently amended. As amended, the complaint asserts a number of state and federal causes of action including, but not limited to, counts under Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and state-law public nuisance theories. The amended complaint asserts that defendants and certain contract growers who are not named in the amended complaint polluted the surface waters, groundwater and associated drinking water supplies of the Illinois River Watershed (IRW) through the land application of poultry litter. Oklahoma asserts that this alleged pollution has also caused extensive injury to the environment (including soils and sediments) of the IRW and that the defendants have been unjustly enriched. Oklahoma’s claims cover the entire IRW, which encompasses more than one million acres of land and the natural resources (including lakes and waterways) contained therein. Oklahoma seeks wide-ranging relief, including injunctive relief, compensatory damages in excess of $800 million, an unspecified amount in punitive damages and attorneys’ fees. We and the other defendants have denied liability, asserted various defenses, and filed a third-party complaint that asserts claims against other persons and entities whose activities may have contributed to the pollution alleged in the amended complaint. The district court has stayed proceedings on the third party complaint pending resolution of Oklahoma’s claims against the defendants. On October 31, 2008, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss for failure to join the Cherokee Nation as a required party or, in the alternative, for judgment as a matter of law based on the plaintiffs’ lack of standing. This motion was granted in part and denied in part on July 22, 2009. In its ruling, the district court dismissed Oklahoma’s claims for cost recovery and for natural resources damages under CERCLA and for unjust enrichment under Oklahoma common law. This ruling also narrowed the scope of Oklahoma’s remaining claims by dismissing all damage claims under its causes of action for Oklahoma common law nuisance, federal common law nuisance, and Oklahoma common law trespass, leaving only its claims for injunctive relief for trial. On August 18, 2009, the Court granted partial summary judgment in favor of the defendants on Oklahoma’s claims for violations of the Oklahoma Registered

22

Poultry Feeding Operations Act. Oklahoma later voluntarily dismissed the remainder of this claim. On September 2, 2009, the Cherokee Nation filed a motion to intervene in the lawsuit. Its motion to intervene was denied on September 15, 2009, and the Cherokee Nation filed a notice of appeal of that ruling in the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals on September 17, 2009. A non-jury trial of the case began on September 24, 2009. At the close of Oklahoma’s case-in-chief, the Court granted the defendants’ motions to dismiss claims based on RCRA, nuisance per se, and health risks related to bacteria. The defense rested its case on January 13, 2010, and closing arguments were held on February 11, 2010. On September 21, 2010, the Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s denial of the Cherokee Nation’s motion to intervene. On October 6, 2010, the Cherokee Nation and the State of Oklahoma filed a petition for rehearing or en banc review seeking reconsideration of this ruling. The Court of Appeals denied this petition.

On May 8, 2008, a lawsuit was filed against the Company and two of our employees in the District Court of McCurtain County, Oklahoma styled Armstrong, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al. (the Armstrong Case). The lawsuit was brought by a group of 52 poultry growers who allege that certain of our live production practices in Oklahoma constitute fraudulent inducement, fraud, unjust enrichment, negligence, gross negligence, unconscionability, violations of the Oklahoma Business Sales Act, Deceptive Trade Practice violations, violations of the Consumer Protection Act, and conversion, as well as other theories of recovery. The plaintiffs sought damages in an unspecified amount. On October 30, 2009, 20 additional growers represented by the same attorney filed a lawsuit against us in the same court asserting the same or similar claims, which is styled Clardy, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al. (the Clardy Case). In both of these cases we have denied all allegations of wrongdoing. In June 2009, the plaintiffs in the Armstrong case requested an expedited trial date for a smaller group of plaintiffs they claimed were facing imminent financial peril. The Court ultimately severed a group of 10 plaintiffs from the Armstrong Case, and a trial began on March 15, 2010. There were numerous irregularities and rulings during the trial which we believe to have been legally erroneous and highly prejudicial to our right to a fair trial. On April 1, 2010, the jury returned a verdict against us and one of our employees, and on April 2, 2010, the jury returned a punitive damages verdict against us. After a dispute caused by inconsistencies between the multiple verdict forms completed by the jury and apparent confusion by the jury as to how to complete those verdict forms, the Court entered a final judgment in the amount of $8,655,735. Subsequent to the trial, the presiding judge disqualified from the cases and the Oklahoma Supreme Court appointed a new judge to the cases. The Company filed post-trial motions challenging the verdict. Those motions were denied. The Company has appealed the verdict to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. We filed a motion with the trial court to change venue from McCurtain County on the grounds that the numerous irregularities that occurred during the trial, coupled with the attendant publicity, resulted in community bias which would prevent the Company from receiving a fair trial in McCurtain County. The trial court granted this motion and the case will be transferred to Choctaw County, Oklahoma. We filed another motion, which the trial court also granted, to stay all future trials of the claims of the plaintiffs in the Armstrong Case and the Clardy Case pending the outcome of the appeal of the first trial. We also filed a motion to sever all of the plaintiffs’ claims into individual cases, which was heard on January 25, 2010. This motion was denied, but the Court took under advisement the sizes and groupings of plaintiffs in future trials. We believe numerous and substantial legal errors were made by the Court during the trial and that a review of and guidance on these issues by the appellate court could have a substantial impact on the outcome of future trials in the Armstrong Case and the Clardy Case.

NOTE 14: CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. (TFM Parent), our wholly-owned subsidiary, has fully and unconditionally guaranteed the 2016 Notes. TFM Parent and substantially all of our wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries fully guarantee the 2014 Notes. In the event the 2014 Notes are rated equal to or higher than BBB- and Baa3 by S&P and Moody’s, respectively, the guarantees will be suspended. Following a suspension of the guarantees, if the 2014 Notes are rated lower than BBB- or Baa3 by S&P or Moody’s, respectively, the guarantees will be reinstated. As of December 31, 2011, the 2014 Notes were rated BBB- and Ba1 by S&P and Moody’s, respectively; therefore, the condition for suspension of the guarantees had not been met as of December 31, 2011.The following financial information presents condensed consolidating financial statements, which include Tyson Foods, Inc. (TFI Parent); TFM Parent; the other 2014 Notes’ guarantor subsidiaries (Guarantors) on a combined basis; the elimination entries necessary to reflect TFM Parent and the Guarantors, which collectively represent the 2014 Notes’ total guarantor subsidiaries (2014 Guarantors), on a combined basis; the 2014 Notes’ non-guarantor subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) on a combined basis; the elimination entries necessary to consolidate TFI Parent, the 2014 Guarantors and the Non-Guarantors; and Tyson Foods, Inc. on a consolidated basis, and is provided as an alternative to providing separate financial statements for the guarantor(s).

23

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income for the three months ended December 31, 2011																						in millions
				2014 Guarantors
	TFI Parent			TFM Parent			Guarantors			Eliminations			Subtotal			Non-Guarantors			Eliminations			Total
Sales	$	52		$	4,841		$	3,307		$	(283	)	$	7,865		$	454		$	(42	)	$	8,329
Cost of Sales		8			4,642			3,102			(283	)		7,461			409			(42	)		7,836
Gross Profit		44			199			205			0			404			45			0			493
Selling, General and Administrative		12			50			131			0			181			22			0			215
Operating Income		32			149			74			0			223			23			0			278
Other (Income) Expense:
Interest expense, net		(13	)		32			31			0			63			(3	)		0			47
Other, net		1			0			(6	)		0			(6	)		(7	)		0			(12	)
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries		(127	)		(26	)		(5	)		20			(11	)		(6	)		144			0
Total Other (Income) Expense		(139	)		6			20			20			46			(16	)		144			35
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes		171			143			54			(20	)		177			39			(144	)		243
Income Tax Expense		15			40			16			0			56			16			0			87
Net Income (Loss)		156			103			38			(20	)		121			23			(144	)		156
Less: Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0			0			0			0			0			0			0			0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tyson	$	156		$	103		$	38		$	(20	)	$	121		$	23		$	(144	)	$	156

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income for the three months ended January 1, 2011																						in millions
				2014 Guarantors
	TFI Parent			TFM Parent			Guarantors			Eliminations			Subtotal			Non-Guarantors			Eliminations			Total
Sales	$	105		$	4,333		$	3,155		$	(241	)	$	7,247		$	358		$	(95	)	$	7,615
Cost of Sales		(43	)		4,000			2,926			(241	)		6,685			324			(95	)		6,871
Gross Profit		148			333			229			0			562			34			0			744
Selling, General and Administrative		17			56			148			0			204			25			0			246
Operating Income		131			277			81			0			358			9			0			498
Other (Income) Expense:
Interest expense, net		(54	)		60			58			0			118			(1	)		0			63
Other, net		(12	)		0			(1	)		0			(1	)		3			0			(10	)
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries		(165	)		(22	)		(13	)		20			(15	)		(2	)		182			0
Total Other (Income) Expense		(231	)		38			44			20			102			0			182			53
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes		362			239			37			(20	)		256			9			(182	)		445
Income Tax Expense		64			74			10			0			84			3			0			151
Net Income (Loss)		298			165			27			(20	)		172			6			(182	)		294
Less: Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0			0			0			0			0			(4	)		0			(4	)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tyson	$	298		$	165		$	27		$	(20	)	$	172		$	10		$	(182	)	$	298

24

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2011																	in millions
			2014 Guarantors
	TFI Parent		TFM Parent		Guarantors		Eliminations			Subtotal		Non-Guarantors		Eliminations			Total
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	0	$	2	$	606	$	0		$	608	$	249	$	0		$	857
Accounts receivable, net		1		473		620		0			1,093		199		(12	)		1,281
Inventories		3		909		1,437		0			2,346		249		0			2,598
Other current assets		43		65		81		(80	)		66		54		(41	)		122
Total Current Assets		47		1,449		2,744		(80	)		4,113		751		(53	)		4,858
Net Property, Plant and Equipment		35		872		2,415		0			3,287		566		0			3,888
Goodwill		0		881		967		0			1,848		43		0			1,891
Intangible Assets		0		30		48		0			78		67		0			145
Other Assets		1,886		174		144		(14	)		304		296		(2,041	)		445
Investment in Subsidiaries		11,504		1,971		842		(1,779	)		1,034		326		(12,864	)		0
Total Assets	$	13,472	$	5,377	$	7,160	$	(1,873	)	$	10,664	$	2,049	$	(14,958	)	$	11,227
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current Liabilities:
Current debt	$	2	$	0	$	0	$	0		$	0	$	82	$	0		$	84
Accounts payable		6		689		594		0			1,283		69		0			1,358
Other current liabilities		5,517		130		325		(80	)		375		430		(5,390	)		932
Total Current Liabilities		5,525		819		919		(80	)		1,658		581		(5,390	)		2,374
Long-Term Debt		1,984		1,044		780		0			1,824		276		(1,953	)		2,131
Deferred Income Taxes		0		113		315		(14	)		414		6		0			420
Other Liabilities		182		143		228		0			371		29		(89	)		493
Total Tyson Shareholders’ Equity		5,781		3,258		4,918		(1,779	)		6,397		1,129		(7,526	)		5,781
Noncontrolling Interest		0		0		0		0			0		28		0			28
Total Shareholders’ Equity		5,781		3,258		4,918		(1,779	)		6,397		1,157		(7,526	)		5,809
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$	13,472	$	5,377	$	7,160	$	(1,873	)	$	10,664	$	2,049	$	(14,958	)	$	11,227

25

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet as of October 1, 2011																	in millions
			2014 Guarantors
	TFI Parent		TFM Parent		Guarantors		Eliminations			Subtotal		Non-Guarantors		Eliminations			Total
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1	$	1	$	414	$	0		$	415	$	300	$	0		$	716
Accounts receivable, net		1		506		656		0			1,162		157		1			1,321
Inventories		2		926		1,440		0			2,366		219		0			2,587
Other current assets		62		95		102		(133	)		64		54		(24	)		156
Total Current Assets		66		1,528		2,612		(133	)		4,007		730		(23	)		4,780
Net Property, Plant and Equipment		37		875		2,369		0			3,244		542		0			3,823
Goodwill		0		881		966		0			1,847		45		0			1,892
Intangible Assets		0		31		49		0			80		69		0			149
Other Assets		2,179		180		147		(15	)		312		296		(2,360	)		427
Investment in Subsidiaries		11,396		1,923		769		(1,760	)		932		319		(12,647	)		0
Total Assets	$	13,678	$	5,418	$	6,912	$	(1,908	)	$	10,422	$	2,001	$	(15,030	)	$	11,071
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current Liabilities:
Current debt	$	2	$	0	$	0	$	0		$	0	$	68	$	0		$	70
Accounts payable		8		525		648		0			1,173		83		0			1,264
Other current liabilities		5,808		144		442		(133	)		453		474		(5,695	)		1,040
Total Current Liabilities		5,818		669		1,090		(133	)		1,626		625		(5,695	)		2,374
Long-Term Debt		1,972		1,198		916		0			2,114		269		(2,243	)		2,112
Deferred Income Taxes		0		120		310		(15	)		415		9		0			424
Other Liabilities		231		142		191		0			333		29		(117	)		476
Total Tyson Shareholders’ Equity		5,657		3,289		4,405		(1,760	)		5,934		1,041		(6,975	)		5,657
Noncontrolling Interest		0		0		0		0			0		28		0			28
Total Shareholders’ Equity		5,657		3,289		4,405		(1,760	)		5,934		1,069		(6,975	)		5,685
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$	13,678	$	5,418	$	6,912	$	(1,908	)	$	10,422	$	2,001	$	(15,030	)	$	11,071

26

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the three months ended December 31, 2011																				in millions
				2014 Guarantors
	TFI Parent			TFM Parent			Guarantors			Eliminations		Subtotal			Non-Guarantors			Eliminations		Total
Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities	$	59		$	332		$	24		$	0	$	356		$	(77	)	$	0	$	338
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment		0			(25	)		(117	)		0		(142	)		(40	)		0		(182	)
(Purchases of)/Proceeds from marketable securities, net		0			2			0			0		2			1			0		3
Other, net		2			2			(1	)		0		1			0			0		3
Cash Provided by (Used for) Investing Activities		2			(21	)		(118	)		0		(139	)		(39	)		0		(176	)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Net change in debt		(1	)		0			0			0		0			21			0		20
Purchases of Tyson Class A common stock		(50	)		0			0			0		0			0			0		(50	)
Dividends		(15	)		0			0			0		0			0			0		(15	)
Other, net		22			0			0			0		0			0			0		22
Net change in intercompany balances		(18	)		(310	)		286			0		(24	)		42			0		0
Cash Provided by (Used for) Financing Activities		(62	)		(310	)		286			0		(24	)		63			0		(23	)
Effect of Exchange Rate Change on Cash		0			0			0			0		0			2			0		2
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents		(1	)		1			192			0		193			(51	)		0		141
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year		1			1			414			0		415			300			0		716
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	0		$	2		$	606		$	0	$	608		$	249		$	0	$	857

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the three months ended January 1, 2011																				in millions
				2014 Guarantors
	TFI Parent			TFM Parent			Guarantors			Eliminations		Subtotal			Non-Guarantors			Eliminations		Total
Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities	$	159		$	275		$	(20	)	$	0	$	255		$	(43	)	$	0	$	371
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment		0			(35	)		(103	)		0		(138	)		(20	)		0		(158	)
(Purchases of)/Proceeds from marketable securities, net		0			(58	)		(21	)		0		(79	)		0			0		(79	)
Other, net		23			0			0			0		0			0			0		23
Cash Provided by (Used for) Investing Activities		23			(93	)		(124	)		0		(217	)		(20	)		0		(214	)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Net change in debt		(35	)		(6	)		0			0		(6	)		40			0		(1	)
Purchases of Tyson Class A common stock		(7	)		0			0			0		0			0			0		(7	)
Dividends		(15	)		0			0			0		0			0			0		(15	)
Other, net		4			0			0			0		0			6			0		10
Net change in intercompany balances		(128	)		(178	)		282			0		104			24			0		0
Cash Provided by (Used for) Financing Activities		(181	)		(184	)		282			0		98			70			0		(13	)
Effect of Exchange Rate Change on Cash		0			0			0			0		0			0			0		0
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents		1			(2	)		138			0		136			7			0		144
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year		2			2			731			0		733			243			0		978
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	3		$	0		$	869		$	0	$	869		$	250		$	0	$	1,122

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Description of the Company

We are one of the world’s largest meat protein companies and the second-largest food production company in the Fortune 500 with one of the most recognized brand names in the food industry. We produce, distribute and market chicken, beef, pork, prepared foods and related allied products. Our operations are conducted in four segments: Chicken, Beef, Pork and Prepared Foods. Some of the key factors influencing our business are customer demand for our products; the ability to maintain and grow relationships with customers and introduce new and innovative products to the marketplace; accessibility of international markets; market prices for our products; the cost of live cattle and hogs, raw materials, grain and feed ingredients; and operating efficiencies of our facilities.

Overview

• General – As a result of continued focus on internal performance, better domestic chicken market conditions, and strong performance in our Pork and Prepared Foods segments, our operating results remained strong in the first quarter of fiscal 2012.

• We continue to focus on maximizing our margins through margin management and operational efficiency improvements. Margin management improvements occurred in the areas of mix, export sales, price optimization and value-added products initiatives. The operational efficiencies occurred in the areas of yield, cost reduction and labor management.

• Market environment – Our first quarter of fiscal 2012 was the Pork segment’s second best quarter in history due to strong demand and less domestic availability of pork which created a favorable pricing environment. Our Prepared Foods segment grew operating income, primarily as the result of less input cost volatility. Driven by reduced industry supplies, domestic chicken market conditions improved in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to the second-half of fiscal 2011. This created better pricing conditions allowing the Chicken segment to return to profitability. While our Beef segment remained profitable in the first quarter of fiscal 2012, we were challenged by volatile market conditions which made it difficult to pass along increased input costs. The beef industry also experienced lower availability of live cattle supplies.

• Our total operating margins were 3.3% in the first quarter of fiscal 2012. The following is a summary of operating margins by segment:

• Chicken – 1.2%

• Beef – 0.9%

• Pork – 11.2%

• Prepared Foods – 5.9%

• Debt and Liquidity – During the first quarter of fiscal 2012, we generated $338 million of operating cash flows. Additionally, we repurchased, as part of our previously announced share repurchase program, 1.8 million shares of our stock for $35 million. At December 31, 2011, we had approximately $1.7 billion of liquidity, which includes availability under our credit facility and $857 million of cash and cash equivalents.

in millions, except per share data	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011		January 1, 2011
Net income attributable to Tyson	$	156	$	298
Net income attributable to Tyson – per diluted share		0.42		0.78

First quarter of fiscal 2011 – Net income attributable to Tyson included the following item:

• $11 million gain related to a sale of interests in an equity method investment

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Fiscal 2012 Outlook

In fiscal 2012, overall domestic protein (chicken, beef, pork and turkey) production is expected to decrease. Because exports are likely to remain strong, we forecast total domestic availability of protein to be down 2-3% compared to fiscal 2011, which should continue to support improved pricing. The following is a summary of the fiscal 2012 outlook for each of our segments, as well as an outlook on sales, capital expenditures, net interest expense, debt and liquidity and share repurchases:

• Chicken – For fiscal 2012, we expect industry production will decrease approximately 4% from fiscal 2011, which should further gradually improve market pricing conditions. Current futures prices indicate higher feed costs in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011. We expect to offset the increased feed costs with pricing and mix improvements as well as operational efficiencies expected to result in additional savings of $125 million in fiscal 2012. Our Chicken segment returned to profitability in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 and we expect it to strengthen throughout the year.

• Beef – We expect to see a reduction in fed cattle supplies of 1-2% for the remainder of fiscal 2012 as compared to fiscal 2011. Although we generally expect adequate supplies in the regions we operate our plants, there may be periods of imbalance of fed cattle supply and demand. We anticipate beef exports will remain strong in fiscal 2012. While our Beef segment remained profitable in the first quarter of fiscal 2012, we were challenged by volatile market conditions which made it difficult to pass along increased input costs. We have seen difficult margin conditions early in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, but expect them to recover throughout the second-half of the fiscal year. For fiscal 2012, we believe our Beef segment will be profitable, returning to our normalized range in the second-half of the fiscal year.

• Pork – We expect hog supplies in fiscal 2012 to be up 1-2% compared to fiscal 2011 and to be adequate in the regions in which we operate. Additionally, we expect pork exports to remain strong in fiscal 2012. While we expect results should remain above our normalized range for the balance of the fiscal year, we do not expect the remainder of fiscal 2012 to be at our first quarter levels.

• Prepared Foods – We expect operational improvements and increased pricing to offset increased raw material costs. Because many of our sales contracts are formula based or shorter-term in nature, we are typically able to offset rising input costs through increased pricing. We expect results should remain within our normalized range for the balance of the fiscal year.

• Sales – We expect fiscal 2012 sales to exceed $34 billion mostly resulting from price increases related to decreases in domestic availability of protein and rising raw material costs.

• Capital Expenditures – We expect fiscal 2012 capital expenditures to be approximately $800-$850 million.

• Net Interest Expense – We expect fiscal 2012 net interest expense will be approximately $185 million, down $46 million compared to fiscal 2011.

• Debt and Liquidity – We do not have any significant scheduled maturities of debt due until fiscal 2014 and will continue to use our available cash to repurchase notes when available at attractive rates. Total liquidity at December 31, 2011 was $1.7 billion, well above our goal to maintain liquidity in excess of $1.2 billion.

• Share Repurchases – We expect to continue repurchasing shares under our share repurchase plan. In the first quarter of fiscal 2012, we repurchased 1.8 million shares for approximately $35 million. As of December 31, 2011, 11 million shares remain authorized for repurchases. The timing and extent to which we repurchase shares will depend upon, among other things, market conditions, liquidity targets, our debt obligations and regulatory requirements.

Summary of Results

Sales

in millions	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Sales	$	8,329		$	7,615
Change in sales volume		(5.0	)%
Change in average sales price		14.6	%
Sales growth		9.4	%

First quarter – Fiscal 2012 vs Fiscal 2011

• Sales Volume – Sales were negatively impacted by lower sales volume, which accounted for a decrease of $403 million. All segments, with the exception of the Pork segment, had a decrease in sales volume, with the majority of the decrease in the Beef segment.

• Average Sales Price – Sales were positively impacted by higher average sales prices, which accounted for an increase of approximately $1.1 billion. This increase was driven by an increase in average sales prices in all segments, which was largely due to continued tight domestic availability of protein and increased live and raw material costs.

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Cost of Sales

in millions	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Cost of sales	$	7,836		$	6,871
Gross margin	$	493		$	744
Cost of sales as a percentage of sales		94.1	%		90.2	%

First quarter – Fiscal 2012 vs Fiscal 2011

• Cost of sales increased $965 million. Higher input cost per pound increased cost of sales $1.3 billion, while lower sales volume decreased cost of sales $332 million.

• The $1.3 billion impact of higher input costs per pound was primarily driven by:

• Increase in average domestic live cattle and hog costs of $811 million.

• Increases in grain and other feed ingredients of $220 million and in other growout operating costs of $30 million in our Chicken segment.

• Increase due to net losses of $3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2012, as compared to net gains of $51 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2011, from our commodity risk management activities related to grain and energy purchases, and excludes the impact from related physical purchase transactions which impact current and future period operating results.

• Increase in raw material costs of $37 million in our Prepared Foods segment.

• The $0.3 billion impact of lower sales volume was primarily driven by decreases in sales volume in our Chicken, Beef and Prepared Foods segments, partially offset by an increase in sales volume in our Pork segment.

Selling, General and Administrative

in millions	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Selling, general and administrative expense	$	215		$	246
As a percentage of sales		2.6	%		3.2	%

First quarter – Fiscal 2012 vs Fiscal 2011

• Decrease of $18 million related to incentive-based compensation.

• Decrease of $6 million related to advertising, deferred compensation, professional fees and sales promotions.

Interest Expense

in millions	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011		January 1, 2011
Cash interest expense	$	40	$	51
Losses on notes repurchased		0		3
Non-cash interest expense		9		12
Total Interest Expense	$	49	$	66

First quarter – Fiscal 2012 vs Fiscal 2011

• Cash interest expense includes interest expense related to the coupon rates for senior notes and commitment/letter of credit fees incurred on our revolving credit facilities. The decrease is due primarily to lower average weekly indebtedness of approximately 14%.

• Non-cash interest expense primarily includes interest related to the amortization of debt issuance costs and discounts/premiums on note issuances. This includes debt issuance costs incurred on our revolving credit facility, the 10.5% Senior Notes due 2014 (2014 Notes), as well as the accretion of the debt discount on the 3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2013 (2013 Notes) and 2014 Notes.

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Other (Income) Expense, net

in millions	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
	$	(12	)	$	(10	)

First quarter of fiscal 2012

• Includes $6 million of equity earnings in joint ventures and $5 million in net foreign currency exchange gains.

First quarter of fiscal 2011

• Includes $11 million gain related to a sale of interests in an equity method investment.

Effective Tax Rate

Three Months Ended
December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
	35.8	%		34.0	%

First quarter of fiscal 2012 – The effective tax rate was impacted by:

• the domestic production deduction; and

• state income taxes.

First quarter of fiscal 2011 – The effective tax rate was impacted by:

• the domestic production deduction;

• state income taxes;

• the reduction of a valuation allowance related to an equity method investment; and

• general business credits.

Segment Results

We operate in four segments: Chicken, Beef, Pork and Prepared Foods. The following table is a summary of sales and operating income, which is how we measure segment income.

in millions	Sales						Operating Income (Loss)
	Three Months Ended						Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011			December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Chicken	$	2,762		$	2,619		$	32		$	181
Beef		3,467			3,185			31			116
Pork		1,475			1,238			165			177
Prepared Foods		861			806			51			28
Other		54			8			(1	)		(4	)
Intersegment Sales		(290	)		(241	)		0			0
Total	$	8,329		$	7,615		$	278		$	498

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Chicken Segment Results

in millions	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011			Change
Sales	$	2,762		$	2,619		$	143
Sales Volume Change								(5.3	)%
Average Sales Price Change								11.3	%
Operating Income	$	32		$	181		$	(149	)
Operating Margin		1.2	%		6.9	%

First quarter – Fiscal 2012 vs Fiscal 2011

• Sales and Operating Income –

• Sales Volume – The decrease in sales volumes in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 was primarily attributable to a decrease in domestic production pounds as a result of balancing our supply with forecasted customer demand, partially offset by increases in international sales volumes and open-market meat purchases.

• Average Sales Price – The increase in average sales price is primarily due to mix changes and price increases associated with increased input costs.

• Operating Income – Operating results were negatively impacted in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 by increases in grain and feed ingredients costs of $220 million and other growout operating costs of $30 million. These increases in operating costs were partially offset by operational efficiencies of approximately $25 million as well as improved mix and pricing.

• Derivative Activities – Operating results included the following amounts for commodity risk management activities related to grain and energy purchases. These amounts exclude the impact from related physical purchase transactions, which impact current and future period operating results.

Income /(Loss) - in millions	Qtr
2012	$	(3	)
2011		51
Decline in operating results	$	(54	)

Beef Segment Results

in millions	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011			Change
Sales	$	3,467		$	3,185		$	282
Sales Volume Change								(8.5	)%
Average Sales Price Change								19.0	%
Operating Income	$	31		$	116		$	(85	)
Operating Margin		0.9	%		3.6	%

First quarter – Fiscal 2012 vs Fiscal 2011

• Sales and Operating Income –

• Average sales price increased due to price increases associated with increased livestock costs. Sales volumes decreased due to a reduction in live cattle processed and outside tallow purchases. Operating income decreased in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 from the result of volatile market conditions, which made it difficult to pass along increased input costs, lower sales volumes and increased employee-related operating costs.

• Derivative Activities – Operating results included the following amounts for commodity risk management activities related to forward futures contracts for live cattle. These amounts exclude the impact from related physical sale and purchase transactions, which impact current and future period operating results.

Income/(Loss) - in millions	Qtr
2012	$	6
2011		(9	)
Improvement in operating results	$	15

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Pork Segment Results

in millions	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011			Change
Sales	$	1,475		$	1,238		$	237
Sales Volume Change								2.6	%
Average Sales Price Change								16.1	%
Operating Income	$	165		$	177		$	(12	)
Operating Margin		11.2	%		14.3	%

First quarter – Fiscal 2012 vs Fiscal 2011

• Sales and Operating Income –

• Average sales price increased due to price increases associated with increased livestock costs. We maintained strong operating income by maximizing our revenues relative to the live hog markets, partially attributable to strong export sales and operational and mix performance.

• Derivative Activities – Operating results included the following amounts for commodity risk management activities related to forward futures contracts for live hogs. These amounts exclude the impact from related physical sale and purchase transactions, which impact current and future period operating results.

Income - in millions	Qtr
2012	$	11
2011		13
Decline in operating results	$	(2	)

Prepared Foods Segment Results

in millions	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011			Change
Sales	$	861		$	806		$	55
Sales Volume Change								(1.4	)%
Average Sales Price Change								8.4	%
Operating Income	$	51		$	28		$	23
Operating Margin		5.9	%		3.5	%

First quarter – Fiscal 2012 vs Fiscal 2011

• Sales and Operating Income – We increased operating income, despite an increase of raw material costs of $37 million and lower sales volumes, due to mix changes and increased average sales prices. Additionally, input costs were less volatile in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 as compared to fiscal 2011. Because many of our sales contracts are formula based or shorter-term in nature, we are typically able to offset rising input costs through increased pricing. However, there is a lag time for price increases to take effect, which is what we experienced during the first quarter of fiscal 2011.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our cash needs for working capital, capital expenditures, growth opportunities, the repurchases of senior notes and share repurchases are expected to be met with current cash on hand, cash flows provided by operating activities, or short-term borrowings. Based on our current expectations, we believe our liquidity and capital resources will be sufficient to operate our business. However, we may take advantage of opportunities to generate additional liquidity or refinance existing debt through capital market transactions. The amount, nature and timing of any capital market transactions will depend on: our operating performance and other circumstances; our then-current commitments and obligations; the amount, nature and timing of our capital requirements; any limitations imposed by our current credit arrangements; and overall market conditions.

33

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

in millions	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011		January 1, 2011
Net income	$	156	$	294
Non-cash items in net income:
Depreciation and amortization		122		128
Deferred income taxes		24		39
Other, net		27		20
Changes in working capital		9		(110	)
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	338	$	371

Cash flows associated with changes in working capital for the three months ended:

• December 31, 2011 – Increased primarily due to a decrease in accounts receivable balance and increases in accounts payable and income taxes payable balances, almost entirely offset by an increase in inventory balance and decreases in salaries, wages and benefits balances.

• January 1, 2011 – Decreased primarily due to a higher inventory balance and a decrease in accrued salaries, wages and benefits, partially offset by an increase in accounts payable and income tax payable balances.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

in millions	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Additions to property, plant and equipment	$	(182	)	$	(158	)
(Purchases of)/Proceeds from marketable securities, net		3			(79	)
Other, net		3			23
Net cash used for investing activities	$	(176	)	$	(214	)

• Additions to property, plant and equipment include acquiring new equipment, upgrading our facilities to maintain competitive standing and positioning us for future opportunities.

• Capital spending for fiscal 2012 is expected to be approximately $800-$850 million, and includes spending on our operations for production and labor efficiencies, yield improvements and sales channel flexibility, as well as expansion of our foreign operations.

• Purchase of marketable securities in the first quarter of fiscal 2011 includes $79 million related to the funding of deferred compensation plans.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

in millions	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Payments on debt	$	(25	)	$	(45	)
Net proceeds from borrowings		45			44
Purchases of Tyson Class A common stock		(50	)		(7	)
Dividends		(15	)		(15	)
Other, net		22			10
Net cash used for financing activities	$	(23	)	$	(13	)

• Payments on debt include:

• During the first quarter of fiscal 2012, we paid $24 million related to borrowings at our foreign operations. Total debt related to our foreign operations was $115 million at December 31, 2011 ($68 million current, $47 million long-term).

• During the first quarter of fiscal 2011, we bought back $30 million of 7.35% Notes due April 2016 (2016 Notes).

• Purchases of Tyson Class A common stock include:

• $35 million for shares repurchased pursuant to our previously announced share repurchase program in the first quarter of fiscal 2012: and

• $15 million and $7 million for shares repurchased to fund certain obligations under our equity compensation plans in the first quarters of fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011, respectively.

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Liquidity

in millions
	Commitments Expiration Date		Facility Amount		Outstanding Letters of Credit (no draw downs)		Amount Borrowed		Amount Available
Cash and cash equivalents									$	857
Revolving credit facility		February 2016	$	1,000	$	145	$	0	$	855
Total liquidity									$	1,712

• The revolving credit facility supports our short-term funding needs and letters of credit. Letters of credit are issued primarily in support of workers’ compensation insurance programs, derivative activities and Dynamic Fuels’ Gulf Opportunity Zone tax-exempt bonds.

• Our 2013 Notes may be converted early during any fiscal quarter in the event our Class A stock trades at or above $21.96 for at least 20 trading days during a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the preceding fiscal quarter. In this event, the note holders may require us to pay outstanding principal in cash, which totaled $458 million at December 31, 2011. Any conversion premium would be paid in shares of Class A stock. The conditions for early conversion were not met in our first fiscal quarter of fiscal 2012, and thus, the notes may not be converted in our second quarter of fiscal 2012. Should the conditions for early conversion be satisfied in future quarters, and the holders exercised their early conversion option, we would use current cash on hand and cash flow from operations for principal payments.

• We do not have any significant scheduled maturities of debt coming due until fiscal 2014.

• Our current ratio was 2.05 to 1 and 2.01 to 1 at December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, respectively.

Capital Resources

Revolving Credit Facility

Cash flows from operating activities and current cash on hand are our primary source of liquidity for funding debt service, capital expenditures, dividends and share repurchases. We also have a revolving credit facility, with a committed maximum capacity of $1.0 billion, to provide additional liquidity for working capital needs, letters of credit and a source of financing for growth opportunities. As of December 31, 2011, we had outstanding letters of credit totaling $145 million, none of which were drawn upon, which left $855 million available for borrowing. Our revolving credit facility is funded by a syndicate of 38 banks, with commitments ranging from $3 million to $90 million per bank. The syndicate includes bank holding companies that are required to be adequately capitalized under federal bank regulatory agency requirements.

Capitalization

To monitor our credit ratings and our capacity for long-term financing, we consider various qualitative and quantitative factors. We monitor the ratio of our debt to our total capitalization as support for our long-term financing decisions. At December 31, 2011 and October 1, 2011, the ratio of our debt-to-total capitalization was 27.6% and 27.7%, respectively. For the purpose of this calculation, debt is defined as the sum of current and long-term debt. Total capitalization is defined as debt plus Total Shareholders’ Equity.

Credit Ratings

2016 Notes

On February 24, 2011, Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (S&P), upgraded the credit rating of these notes from “BB+” to “BBB-.” On March 29, 2011, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s) upgraded the credit rating of these notes from “Ba2” to “Ba1”. These upgrades decreased the interest rate on the 2016 Notes from 7.35% to 6.85%, effective beginning with the six-month interest payment due April 1, 2011.

A further one-notch upgrade by Moody’s would decrease the interest rates on the 2016 Notes by 0.25%, while a one-notch downgrade by either ratings agency would increase the interest rates on the 2016 Notes by 0.25%.

Revolving Credit Facility

S&P’s corporate credit rating for Tyson Foods, Inc. is “BBB-.” Moody’s corporate credit rating for Tyson Foods, Inc. is “Ba1.” If Moody’s were to upgrade our credit rating to “Baa2” or higher while our S&P credit rating remained at “BBB-”, or S&P were to upgrade our credit rating to “BBB” or higher while Moody’s upgraded our credit rating to “Baa3” or higher, our letter of credit fees would decrease by 0.25% and fees paid on the unused portion of the facility would decrease by 0.075%.

If S&P were to downgrade our corporate credit rating to “BB+” or Moody’s were to downgrade our corporate credit rating to “Ba2”, our letter of credit fees would increase by 0.25% and fees paid on the unused portion of the facility would increase by 0.025%.

35

Debt Covenants

Our revolving credit facility contains affirmative and negative covenants that, among other things, may limit or restrict our ability to: create liens and encumbrances; incur debt; merge, dissolve, liquidate or consolidate; make acquisitions and investments; dispose of or transfer assets; pay dividends or make other payments in respect of our capital stock; amend material documents; change the nature of our business; make certain payments of debt; engage in certain transactions with affiliates; and enter into sale/leaseback or hedging transactions, in each case, subject to certain qualifications and exceptions. In addition, we are required to maintain minimum interest expense coverage and maximum leverage ratios.

Our 2014 Notes also contain affirmative and negative covenants that, among other things, may limit or restrict our ability to: incur additional debt and issue preferred stock; make certain investments and restricted payments; create liens; create restrictions on distributions from subsidiaries; engage in specified sales of assets and subsidiary stock; enter into transactions with affiliates; enter new lines of business; engage in consolidation, mergers and acquisitions; and engage in certain sale/leaseback transactions.

We were in compliance with all debt covenants at December 31, 2011.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Refer to the discussion of recently issued accounting pronouncements under Part I, Item 1, Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements, Note 1: Accounting Policies.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

We consider accounting policies related to: contingent liabilities; marketing and advertising costs; accrued self insurance; impairment of long-lived assets; impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets; and income taxes to be critical policies. These policies are summarized in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 1, 2011.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS RELEVANT TO FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF “SAFE HARBOR” PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

Certain information in this report constitutes forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, current views and estimates of our outlook for fiscal 2012, other future economic circumstances, industry conditions in domestic and international markets, our performance and financial results (e.g., debt levels, return on invested capital, value-added product growth, capital expenditures, tax rates, access to foreign markets and dividend policy). These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause our actual results and experiences to differ materially from anticipated results and expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. We wish to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Among the factors that may cause actual results and experiences to differ from anticipated results and expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are the following: (i) the effect of, or changes in, general economic conditions; (ii) fluctuations in the cost and availability of inputs and raw materials, such as live cattle, live swine, feed grains (including corn and soybean meal) and energy; (iii) market conditions for finished products, including competition from other global and domestic food processors, supply and pricing of competing products and alternative proteins and demand for alternative proteins; (iv) successful rationalization of existing facilities and operating efficiencies of the facilities; (v) risks associated with our commodity purchasing activities; (vi) access to foreign markets together with foreign economic conditions, including currency fluctuations, import/export restrictions and foreign politics; (vii) outbreak of a livestock disease (such as avian influenza (AI) or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)), which could have an adverse effect on livestock we own, the availability of livestock we purchase, consumer perception of certain protein products or our ability to access certain domestic and foreign markets; (viii) changes in availability and relative costs of labor and contract growers and our ability to maintain good relationships with employees, labor unions, contract growers and independent producers providing us livestock; (ix) issues related to food safety, including costs resulting from product recalls, regulatory compliance and any related claims or litigation; (x) changes in consumer preference and diets and our ability to identify and react to consumer trends;

(xi) significant marketing plan changes by large customers or loss of one or more large customers; (xii) adverse results from litigation; (xiii) risks associated with leverage, including cost increases due to rising interest rates or changes in debt ratings or outlook; (xiv) compliance with and changes to regulations and laws (both domestic and foreign), including changes in accounting standards, tax laws, environmental laws, agricultural laws and occupational, health and safety laws; (xv) our ability to make effective acquisitions or joint ventures and successfully integrate newly acquired businesses into existing operations; (xvi) effectiveness of advertising and marketing programs; and (xvii) those factors listed under Item 1A. “Risk Factors” included in our Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended October 1, 2011.

36

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

MARKET RISK

Market risk relating to our operations results primarily from changes in commodity prices, interest rates and foreign exchange rates, as well as credit risk concentrations. To address certain of these risks, we enter into various derivative transactions as described below. If a derivative instrument is accounted for as a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the instrument either will be offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities or firm commitments through earnings, or be recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of an instrument’s change in fair value is recognized immediately. Additionally, we hold certain positions, primarily in grain and livestock futures that either do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting or are not designated as hedges. With the exception of normal purchases and normal sales that are expected to result in physical delivery, we record these positions at fair value, and the unrealized gains and losses are reported in earnings at each reporting date. Changes in market value of derivatives used in our risk management activities relating to forward sales contracts are recorded in sales. Changes in market value of derivatives used in our risk management activities surrounding inventories on hand or anticipated purchases of inventories are recorded in cost of sales.

The sensitivity analyses presented below are the measures of potential losses of fair value resulting from hypothetical changes in market prices related to commodities. Sensitivity analyses do not consider the actions we may take to mitigate our exposure to changes, nor do they consider the effects such hypothetical adverse changes may have on overall economic activity. Actual changes in market prices may differ from hypothetical changes.

Commodities Risk: We purchase certain commodities, such as grains and livestock, in the course of normal operations. As part of our commodity risk management activities, we use derivative financial instruments, primarily futures and options, to reduce the effect of changing prices and as a mechanism to procure the underlying commodity. However, as the commodities underlying our derivative financial instruments can experience significant price fluctuations, any requirement to mark-to-market the positions that have not been designated or do not qualify as hedges could result in volatility in our results of operations. Contract terms of a hedge instrument closely mirror those of the hedged item providing a high degree of risk reduction and correlation. Contracts designated and highly effective at meeting this risk reduction and correlation criteria are recorded using hedge accounting. The following table presents a sensitivity analysis resulting from a hypothetical change of 10% in market prices as of December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, on the fair value of open positions. The fair value of such positions is a summation of the fair values calculated for each commodity by valuing each net position at quoted futures prices. The market risk exposure analysis includes hedge and non-hedge derivative financial instruments.

Effect of 10% change in fair value

in millions	December 31, 2011		October 1, 2011
Livestock:
Cattle	$	19	$	34
Hogs		51		57
Grain		12		11

Interest Rate Risk: At December 31, 2011, we had variable rate debt of $232 million with a weighted average interest rate of 4.4%. A hypothetical 10% increase in interest rates effective at December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, would have a minimal effect on interest expense.

Additionally, changes in interest rates impact the fair value of our fixed-rate debt. At December 31, 2011, we had fixed-rate debt of $2.0 billion with a weighted average interest rate of 9.2%. Market risk for fixed-rate debt is estimated as the potential increase in fair value, resulting from a hypothetical 10% decrease in interest rates. A hypothetical 10% decrease in interest rates would have increased the fair value of our fixed-rate debt by approximately $6 million at December 31, 2011, and $5 million at October 1, 2011. The fair values of our debt were estimated based on quoted market prices and/or published interest rates.

Foreign Currency Risk: We have foreign exchange gain/loss exposure from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates primarily as a result of certain receivable and payable balances. The primary currency exchanges we have exposure to are the Brazilian real, the British pound sterling, the Canadian dollar, the Chinese renminbi, the European euro and the Mexican peso. We periodically enter into foreign exchange forward and option contracts to hedge some portion of our foreign currency exposure. A hypothetical 10% change in foreign exchange rates effective at December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, related to the foreign exchange forward and option contracts would have a $15 million and $18 million impact, respectively, on pretax income. In the future, we may enter into more foreign exchange forward and option contracts as a result of growth in our international operations.

37

Concentration of Credit Risk: Refer to our market risk disclosures set forth in the 2011 Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for a detailed discussion of quantitative and qualitative disclosures about concentration of credit risks, as these risk disclosures have not changed significantly from the 2011 Annual Report.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

An evaluation was performed, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act)). Based on that evaluation, management, including the CEO and CFO, has concluded that, as of December 31, 2011, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

In the first quarter ended December 31, 2011, there have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Refer to the description of certain legal proceedings pending against us under Part I, Item 1, Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements, Note 13: Commitments and Contingencies, which discussion is incorporated herein by reference. Listed below are certain additional legal proceedings involving the Company and/or its subsidiaries.

On October 23, 2001, a putative class action lawsuit styled R. Lynn Thompson, et al. vs. Tyson Foods, Inc. was filed in the District Court for Mayes County, Oklahoma by three property owners on behalf of all owners of lakefront property on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees. Simmons Foods, Inc. and Peterson Farms, Inc. also are defendants. The plaintiffs allege the defendants’ operations diminished the water quality in the lake thereby interfering with the plaintiffs’ use and enjoyment of their properties. The plaintiffs sought injunctive relief and an unspecified amount of compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs. While the District Court certified a class, on October 4, 2005, the Court of Civil Appeals of the State of Oklahoma reversed, holding the plaintiffs’ claims were not suitable for disposition as a class action. This decision was upheld by the Oklahoma Supreme Court and the case was remanded to the District Court with instructions that the matter proceed only on behalf of the three named plaintiffs. Plaintiffs seek injunctive relief, restitution and compensatory and punitive damages in an unspecified amount in excess of $10,000. We and the other defendants have denied liability and asserted various defenses. The defendants have requested a trial date, but the court has not yet scheduled the matter for trial.

Since 2003, nine lawsuits have been brought against us and several other poultry companies by approximately 150 plaintiffs in Washington County, Arkansas Circuit Court (Green v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., Bible v. Tyson Foods, Inc., Beal v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., McWhorter v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., McConnell v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., Carroll v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., Belew v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., Gonzalez v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., and Rasco v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al.) alleging that the land application of poultry litter caused arsenic and pathogenic mold and fungi contamination of the air, soil and water in and around Prairie Grove, Arkansas and seeking recovery for several types of personal injuries, including several forms of cancer. On August 2, 2006, the Court granted summary judgment in favor of Tyson and the other poultry company defendants in the first case to go to trial, which the plaintiffs appealed, and the trial court stayed the remaining eight lawsuits pending the appeal. On May 8, 2008, the Arkansas Supreme Court reversed the summary judgment and remanded for a new trial. The remanded trial was held and the jury returned a verdict in our favor. The plaintiffs appealed this verdict to the Arkansas Supreme Court, which affirmed the verdict and denied the plaintiffs’ petition for rehearing. The trial court has scheduled the second trial for October 22, 2012.

In 2010 our Mexican subsidiary, Tyson de Mexico (TdM), provided the National Water Commission (CONAGUA), an agency of the Mexican government’s Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, with information on TdM’s water usage for 2008 and 2009 at certain water wells that are part of TdM’s poultry production operations. In February 2011, the regional CONAGUA office informed TdM that it was the regional CONAGUA office’s opinion that TdM’s permits for water usage from certain wells lapsed between the period of January 1, 2009 through May 5, 2009. On January 5, 2012, TdM and CONAGUA reached an agreement resolving this matter. Under the agreement, TdM paid 8.8 million pesos (approximately $700,000) for water usage for the time period in question.

38

In late 2010, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 began a Clean Air Act investigation of the company related to operation and maintenance of ammonia refrigeration equipment at multiple facilities. The EPA subsequently referred the matter, which involves allegations of potential non-compliance with the Clean Air Act’s Risk Management Plan requirements at 15 Tyson facilities in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska, to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). The EPA and DOJ have indicated they will seek monetary penalties (but have not yet indicated an amount) and injunctive relief requiring equipment and infrastructure changes at several facilities.

Other Matters: We currently have approximately 115,000 employees and, at any time, have various employment practices matters outstanding. In the aggregate, these matters are significant to the Company, and we devote significant resources to managing employment issues. Additionally, we are subject to other lawsuits, investigations and claims (some of which involve substantial amounts) arising out of the conduct of our business. While the ultimate results of these matters cannot be determined, they are not expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations or financial position.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors listed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 1, 2011. These risk factors should be considered carefully with the information provided elsewhere in this report, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known or we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The table below provides information regarding our purchases of Class A stock during the periods indicated.

Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased				Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs				Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (1)
Oct. 2, 2011 to Oct. 29, 2011		384,718				18.08		0				12,793,816
Oct. 30, 2011 to Dec. 3, 2011		929,111				18.08		697,032				12,096,784
Dec. 4, 2011 to Dec. 31, 2011		1,212,664				21.41		1,055,046				11,041,738
Total		2,526,493	(2	)		19.68		1,752,078	(3	)		11,041,738

(1) On February 7, 2003, we announced our board of directors approved a plan to repurchase up to 25 million shares of Class A common stock from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions. The plan has no fixed or scheduled termination date.

(2) We purchased 774,415 shares during the period that were not made pursuant to our previously announced stock repurchase plan, but were purchased to fund certain Company obligations under our equity compensation plans. These transactions included 500,885 shares purchased in open market transactions and 273,530 shares withheld to cover required tax withholdings on the vesting of restricted stock.

(3) We purchased 1,752,078 shares during the period pursuant to our previously announced stock repurchase plan of approximately 25 million shares.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None

Item 4. Removed and Reserved

Item 5. Other Information

None

39

Item 6. Exhibits

The following exhibits are filed with this report.

Exhibit No.	Exhibit Description
12.1	Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to SEC Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to SEC Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101	The following financial information from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2011, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (iv) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	TYSON FOODS, INC.
Date: February 3, 2012		/s/ Dennis Leatherby
		Dennis Leatherby
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Date: February 3, 2012	/s/ Craig J. Hart
	Craig J. Hart
	Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer

40

EX-12.1

EXHIBIT 12.1

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

(dollars in millions)	Three Months Ending December 31, 2011
				Fiscal Years
				2011			2010			2009			2008			2007
Earnings:
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	$	243		$	1,074		$	1,203		$	(543	)	$	154		$	410
Add: Fixed charges		68			305			360			388			272			278
Add: Amortization of capitalized interest		1			4			3			4			4			3
Less: Capitalized interest		(3	)		(9	)		(11	)		(3	)		(3	)		(2	)
Total adjusted earnings		309			1,374			1,555			(154	)		427			689
Fixed Charges:
Interest		39			191			240			289			212			228
Capitalized interest		3			9			11			3			3			2
Amortization of debt discount expense		10			44			46			38			3			4
Rentals at computed interest factor (1)		16			61			63			58			54			44
Total fixed charges	$	68		$	305		$	360		$	388		$	272		$	278
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges		4.54			4.50			4.32						1.57			2.48
Insufficient Coverage										$	542

(1) Amounts represent those portions of rent expense (one-third) that are reasonable approximations of interest costs.

EX-31.1

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Donnie Smith, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Tyson Foods, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: February 3, 2012

/s/ Donnie Smith

Donnie Smith

President and Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Dennis Leatherby, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Tyson Foods, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: February 3, 2012

/s/ Dennis Leatherby

Dennis Leatherby

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EX-32.1

EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the accompanying Quarterly Report of Tyson Foods, Inc. (the Company) on Form 10-Q for the period ending December 31, 2011, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report), I, Donnie Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to the best of my knowledge, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

/s/ Donnie Smith

Donnie Smith

President and Chief Executive Officer

February 3, 2012

EX-32.2

EXHIBIT 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the accompanying Quarterly Report of Tyson Foods, Inc. (the Company) on Form 10-Q for the period ending December 31, 2011, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report), I, Dennis Leatherby, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to the best of my knowledge, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

/s/ Dennis Leatherby

Dennis Leatherby

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

February 3, 2012

XML

Earnings Per Share (Narrative) (Details) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share, shares	4	4
Percentage amount of per share cash dividends paid to holders of Class B stock that cannot exceed paid to holders of Class A stock	90.00%
Common Class A [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Line Items]
Undistributed earnings (losses), ratio used to calculate allocation to class of stock	1
Common Class B [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Line Items]
Undistributed earnings (losses), ratio used to calculate allocation to class of stock	0.9

XML

Fair Value Measurements (Schedule Of Fair Value And Carrying Value Of Debt) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]
Total Debt, Fair Value	$ 2,371	$ 2,334
Total Debt, Carrying Value	$ 2,215	$ 2,182

XML

Derivative Financial Instruments (Pretax Impact Of Undesignated Derivatives) (Details) (Nondesignated [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) Recognized in Earnings	$ 29	$ 34
Commodity Contracts [Member] | Sales [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) Recognized in Earnings	(3)	14
Commodity Contracts [Member] | Cost Of Sales [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) Recognized in Earnings	29	21
Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member] | Other Income/Expense [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) Recognized in Earnings	$ 3	$ (1)

XML

Comprehensive Income (Components Of Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011
Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 156	$ 294
Net hedging unrealized (gain) loss reclassified to earnings	1	(13)
Net hedging unrealized gain (loss)	(2)	12
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments	1	(2)
Currency translation adjustment	3	(5)
Postretirement benefits reserve adjustments	1	0
Total comprehensive income	160	286
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	(4)
Total comprehensive income attributable to Tyson	$ 160	$ 290

XML

Derivative Financial Instruments (Pretax Impact Of Derivative Instruments On The Consolidated Statements Of Income) (Details) (Net Investment Hedging [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011
Other Income/Expense [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from OCI to Earnings	$ 0	$ 0
Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivatives	$ (1)	$ (1)

XML

Property, Plant And Equipment (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 8,553	$ 8,522
Less accumulated depreciation	4,665	4,699
Net property, plant and equipment	3,888	3,823
Land [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	95	95
Buildings And Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	2,732	2,698
Machinery And Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	4,863	4,897
Land Improvements And Other [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	389	386
Buildings And Equipment Under Construction [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 474	$ 446

XML

Segment Reporting (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of segments	4
Sales	$ 8,329	$ 7,615
Beef [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	3,467	3,185
Beef [Member] | Intersegment Sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	64	50
Pork [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	1,475	1,238
Pork [Member] | Intersegment Sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	$ 226	$ 191

XML

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Schedule Of Earnings Per Share, Basic And Diluted

	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011		January 1, 2011
Numerator:
Net income	$	156	$	294
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		0		(4	)
Net income attributable to Tyson		156		298
Less Dividends:
Class A ($0.040/share)		12		12
Class B ($0.036/share)		3		3
Undistributed earnings	$	141	$	283
Class A undistributed earnings	$	117	$	234
Class B undistributed earnings		24		49
Total undistributed earnings	$	141	$	283
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per share:
Class A weighted average shares		297		304
Class B weighted average shares, and shares under the if-converted method for diluted earnings per share		70		70
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and restricted stock		5		5
Convertible 2013 Notes		4		0
Denominator for diluted earnings per share – adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions		376		379
Net Income Per Share Attributable to Tyson:
Class A Basic	$	0.43	$	0.81
Class B Basic	$	0.39	$	0.73
Diluted	$	0.42	$	0.78

XML

Fair Value Measurements (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 years
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Available for sale securities, maturity period, years	36
Syntroleum Corporation Expires 2014 [Member] | Syntroleum Corporation [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Number of warrants which can be used to purchase an equivalent amount of common stock	4.25
Class of warrant or right average exercise price of warrants or rights	2.87
Warrant exercise, number of shares of Syntroleum Corporation acquired	8

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Derivative Financial Instruments (Aggregate Outstanding Notionals Related To Cash Flow Hedges) (Details) (Cash Flow Hedge [Member], Commodity [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011 bushels	Oct. 01, 2011 bushels
Corn, In Bushels [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Aggregate notional of derivative designated as hedging	7,000,000	6,000,000
Soy Meal, In Tons [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Aggregate notional of derivative designated as hedging	22,200	82,300
Foreign Currency [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Aggregate notional of derivative designated as hedging	22	75

XML

Income Taxes (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Effective tax rate	35.80%	34.00%
Unrecognized tax benefits	$ 173		$ 174
Unrecognized tax benefits that would impact effective tax rate	154		155
Unrecognized tax benefits, income tax penalties and interest accrued			58
Unrecognized tax benefits, reductions that could result from tax audit resolutions	$ 10

XML

Fair Value Measurements (Schedule Of Debt Securities Measured At Fair Value On A Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]
Balance at beginning of year	$ 83	$ 73
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses), Included in earnings	1	0
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses), Included in other comprehensive income (loss)	(2)	0
Purchases	6	2
Issuances	0	0
Settlements	(4)	(4)
Balance at end of period	84	71
Total gains (losses) for the three-month period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets and liabilities still held at end of period	$ 0	$ 0

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Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011	Oct. 02, 2010
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 857	$ 716	$ 1,122	$ 978
Accounts receivable, net	1,281	1,321
Inventories	2,598	2,587
Other current assets	122	156
Total Current Assets	4,858	4,780
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	3,888	3,823
Goodwill	1,891	1,892
Intangible Assets	145	149
Other Assets	445	427
Investment in Subsidiaries	0	0
Total Assets	11,227	11,071
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current debt	84	70
Accounts payable	1,358	1,264
Other current liabilities	932	1,040
Total Current Liabilities	2,374	2,374
Long-Term Debt	2,131	2,112
Deferred Income Taxes	420	424
Other Liabilities	493	476
Total Tyson Shareholders' Equity	5,781	5,657
Noncontrolling Interest	28	28
Total Shareholders' Equity	5,809	5,685
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	11,227	11,071
TFI Parent [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	0	1	3	2
Accounts receivable, net	1	1
Inventories	3	2
Other current assets	43	62
Total Current Assets	47	66
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	35	37
Goodwill	0	0
Intangible Assets	0	0
Other Assets	1,886	2,179
Investment in Subsidiaries	11,504	11,396
Total Assets	13,472	13,678
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current debt	2	2
Accounts payable	6	8
Other current liabilities	5,517	5,808
Total Current Liabilities	5,525	5,818
Long-Term Debt	1,984	1,972
Deferred Income Taxes	0	0
Other Liabilities	182	231
Total Tyson Shareholders' Equity	5,781	5,657
Noncontrolling Interest	0	0
Total Shareholders' Equity	5,781	5,657
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	13,472	13,678
TFM Parent, Guarantors [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	2	1	0	2
Accounts receivable, net	473	506
Inventories	909	926
Other current assets	65	95
Total Current Assets	1,449	1,528
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	872	875
Goodwill	881	881
Intangible Assets	30	31
Other Assets	174	180
Investment in Subsidiaries	1,971	1,923
Total Assets	5,377	5,418
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current debt	0	0
Accounts payable	689	525
Other current liabilities	130	144
Total Current Liabilities	819	669
Long-Term Debt	1,044	1,198
Deferred Income Taxes	113	120
Other Liabilities	143	142
Total Tyson Shareholders' Equity	3,258	3,289
Noncontrolling Interest	0	0
Total Shareholders' Equity	3,258	3,289
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	5,377	5,418
Guarantors [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	606	414	869	731
Accounts receivable, net	620	656
Inventories	1,437	1,440
Other current assets	81	102
Total Current Assets	2,744	2,612
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	2,415	2,369
Goodwill	967	966
Intangible Assets	48	49
Other Assets	144	147
Investment in Subsidiaries	842	769
Total Assets	7,160	6,912
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current debt	0	0
Accounts payable	594	648
Other current liabilities	325	442
Total Current Liabilities	919	1,090
Long-Term Debt	780	916
Deferred Income Taxes	315	310
Other Liabilities	228	191
Total Tyson Shareholders' Equity	4,918	4,405
Noncontrolling Interest	0	0
Total Shareholders' Equity	4,918	4,405
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	7,160	6,912
Eliminations, Guarantors [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Inventories	0	0
Other current assets	(80)	(133)
Total Current Assets	(80)	(133)
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Intangible Assets	0	0
Other Assets	(14)	(15)
Investment in Subsidiaries	(1,779)	(1,760)
Total Assets	(1,873)	(1,908)
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current debt	0	0
Accounts payable	0	0
Other current liabilities	(80)	(133)
Total Current Liabilities	(80)	(133)
Long-Term Debt	0	0
Deferred Income Taxes	(14)	(15)
Other Liabilities	0	0
Total Tyson Shareholders' Equity	(1,779)	(1,760)
Noncontrolling Interest	0	0
Total Shareholders' Equity	(1,779)	(1,760)
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	(1,873)	(1,908)
Subtotal, Guarantors [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	608	415	869	733
Accounts receivable, net	1,093	1,162
Inventories	2,346	2,366
Other current assets	66	64
Total Current Assets	4,113	4,007
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	3,287	3,244
Goodwill	1,848	1,847
Intangible Assets	78	80
Other Assets	304	312
Investment in Subsidiaries	1,034	932
Total Assets	10,664	10,422
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current debt	0	0
Accounts payable	1,283	1,173
Other current liabilities	375	453
Total Current Liabilities	1,658	1,626
Long-Term Debt	1,824	2,114
Deferred Income Taxes	414	415
Other Liabilities	371	333
Total Tyson Shareholders' Equity	6,397	5,934
Noncontrolling Interest	0	0
Total Shareholders' Equity	6,397	5,934
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	10,664	10,422
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	249	300	250	243
Accounts receivable, net	199	157
Inventories	249	219
Other current assets	54	54
Total Current Assets	751	730
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	566	542
Goodwill	43	45
Intangible Assets	67	69
Other Assets	296	296
Investment in Subsidiaries	326	319
Total Assets	2,049	2,001
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current debt	82	68
Accounts payable	69	83
Other current liabilities	430	474
Total Current Liabilities	581	625
Long-Term Debt	276	269
Deferred Income Taxes	6	9
Other Liabilities	29	29
Total Tyson Shareholders' Equity	1,129	1,041
Noncontrolling Interest	28	28
Total Shareholders' Equity	1,157	1,069
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	2,049	2,001
Eliminations [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	(12)	1
Inventories	0	0
Other current assets	(41)	(24)
Total Current Assets	(53)	(23)
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Intangible Assets	0	0
Other Assets	(2,041)	(2,360)
Investment in Subsidiaries	(12,864)	(12,647)
Total Assets	(14,958)	(15,030)
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current debt	0	0
Accounts payable	0	0
Other current liabilities	(5,390)	(5,695)
Total Current Liabilities	(5,390)	(5,695)
Long-Term Debt	(1,953)	(2,243)
Deferred Income Taxes	0	0
Other Liabilities	(89)	(117)
Total Tyson Shareholders' Equity	(7,526)	(6,975)
Noncontrolling Interest	0	0
Total Shareholders' Equity	(7,526)	(6,975)
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	$ (14,958)	$ (15,030)

XML

Derivative Financial Instruments (Aggregate Outstanding Notionals Related To Undesignated Positions) (Details) (Nondesignated [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011
Corn, In Bushels [Member] | Commodity [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Aggregate notional of undesignated derivatives	13,000,000	17,000,000
Soy Meal, In Tons [Member] | Commodity [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Aggregate notional of undesignated derivatives	85,800	174,600
Soy Oil, In Pounds [Member] | Commodity [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Aggregate notional of undesignated derivatives	0	13,000,000
Live Cattle, In Pounds [Member] | Commodity [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Aggregate notional of undesignated derivatives	46,000,000	72,000,000
Lean Hogs, In Pounds [Member] | Commodity [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Aggregate notional of undesignated derivatives	138,000,000	19,000,000
Foreign Currency [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount of undesignated commodity derivatives	132	110
Interest Rate [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount of undesignated commodity derivatives	36	39

XML

Other Current Liabilities

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Other Current Liabilities [Abstract]

Other Current Liabilities

NOTE 4: OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES

Other current liabilities are as follows (in millions):

	December 31, 2011		October 1, 2011
Accrued salaries, wages and benefits	$	275	$	407
Self-insurance reserves		287		298
Other		370		335
Total other current liabilities	$	932	$	1,040

XML

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities	$ 338	$ 371
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(182)	(158)
(Purchases of)/ Proceeds from marketable securities, net	3	(79)
Other, net	3	23
Cash Used for Investing Activities	(176)	(214)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Net change in debt	20	(1)
Purchases of Tyson Class A common stock	(50)	(7)
Dividends	(15)	(15)
Other, net	22	10
Net change in intercompany balances	0	0
Cash Used for Financing Activities	(23)	(13)
Effect of Exchange Rate Change on Cash	2	0
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	141	144
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	716	978
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	857	1,122
TFI Parent [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities	59	159
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	0	0
(Purchases of)/ Proceeds from marketable securities, net	0	0
Other, net	2	23
Cash Used for Investing Activities	2	23
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Net change in debt	(1)	(35)
Purchases of Tyson Class A common stock	(50)	(7)
Dividends	(15)	(15)
Other, net	22	4
Net change in intercompany balances	(18)	(128)
Cash Used for Financing Activities	(62)	(181)
Effect of Exchange Rate Change on Cash	0	0
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(1)	1
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	1	2
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	0	3
TFM Parent, Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities	332	275
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(25)	(35)
(Purchases of)/ Proceeds from marketable securities, net	2	(58)
Other, net	2	0
Cash Used for Investing Activities	(21)	(93)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Net change in debt	0	(6)
Purchases of Tyson Class A common stock	0	0
Dividends	0	0
Other, net	0	0
Net change in intercompany balances	(310)	(178)
Cash Used for Financing Activities	(310)	(184)
Effect of Exchange Rate Change on Cash	0	0
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	1	(2)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	1	2
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	2	0
Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities	24	(20)
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(117)	(103)
(Purchases of)/ Proceeds from marketable securities, net	0	(21)
Other, net	(1)	0
Cash Used for Investing Activities	(118)	(124)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Net change in debt	0	0
Purchases of Tyson Class A common stock	0	0
Dividends	0	0
Other, net	0	0
Net change in intercompany balances	286	282
Cash Used for Financing Activities	286	282
Effect of Exchange Rate Change on Cash	0	0
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	192	138
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	414	731
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	606	869
Eliminations, Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities	0	0
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	0	0
(Purchases of)/ Proceeds from marketable securities, net	0	0
Other, net	0	0
Cash Used for Investing Activities	0	0
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Net change in debt	0	0
Purchases of Tyson Class A common stock	0	0
Dividends	0	0
Other, net	0	0
Net change in intercompany balances	0	0
Cash Used for Financing Activities	0	0
Effect of Exchange Rate Change on Cash	0	0
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	0	0
Subtotal, Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities	356	255
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(142)	(138)
(Purchases of)/ Proceeds from marketable securities, net	2	(79)
Other, net	1	0
Cash Used for Investing Activities	(139)	(217)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Net change in debt	0	(6)
Purchases of Tyson Class A common stock	0	0
Dividends	0	0
Other, net	0	0
Net change in intercompany balances	(24)	104
Cash Used for Financing Activities	(24)	98
Effect of Exchange Rate Change on Cash	0	0
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	193	136
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	415	733
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	608	869
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities	(77)	(43)
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(40)	(20)
(Purchases of)/ Proceeds from marketable securities, net	1	0
Other, net	0	0
Cash Used for Investing Activities	(39)	(20)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Net change in debt	21	40
Purchases of Tyson Class A common stock	0	0
Dividends	0	0
Other, net	0	6
Net change in intercompany balances	42	24
Cash Used for Financing Activities	63	70
Effect of Exchange Rate Change on Cash	2	0
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(51)	7
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	300	243
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	249	250
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities	0	0
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	0	0
(Purchases of)/ Proceeds from marketable securities, net	0	0
Other, net	0	0
Cash Used for Investing Activities	0	0
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Net change in debt	0	0
Purchases of Tyson Class A common stock	0	0
Dividends	0	0
Other, net	0	0
Net change in intercompany balances	0	0
Cash Used for Financing Activities	0	0
Effect of Exchange Rate Change on Cash	0	0
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$ 0	$ 0

XML

Derivative Financial Instruments (Pretax Impact Of Cash Flow Hedge Derivative Instruments On The Consolidated Statements Of Income) (Details) (Cash Flow Hedge [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivatives	$ (3)	$ 25
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from OCI to Earnings	(1)	20
Cost Of Sales [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from OCI to Earnings	(6)	20
Other Income/Expense [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from OCI to Earnings	5	0
Commodity Contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivatives	2	25
Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivatives	$ (5)	$ 0

XML

Segment Reporting (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting Information, By Segment

	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Sales:
Chicken	$	2,762		$	2,619
Beef		3,467			3,185
Pork		1,475			1,238
Prepared Foods		861			806
Other		54			8
Intersegment Sales		(290	)		(241	)
Total Sales	$	8,329		$	7,615
Operating Income (Loss):
Chicken	$	32		$	181
Beef		31			116
Pork		165			177
Prepared Foods		51			28
Other		(1	)		(4	)
Total Operating Income		278			498
Total Other (Income) Expense		35			53	(a)
Income before Income Taxes	$	243		$	445

(a) Includes $11 million gain related to a sale of interests in an equity method investment.

XML

Comprehensive Income (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Comprehensive Income [Abstract]

Components Of Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Net income	$	156		$	294
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Net hedging unrealized (gain) loss reclassified to earnings		1			(13	)
Net hedging unrealized gain (loss)		(2	)		12
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments		1			(2	)
Currency translation adjustment		3			(5	)
Postretirement benefits reserve adjustments		1			0
Total comprehensive income		160			286
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		0			(4	)
Total comprehensive income attributable to Tyson	$	160		$	290

Related Tax Effects Allocated To Components Of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Income tax expense (benefit):
Net hedging unrealized loss reclassified to earnings	$	0		$	(7	)
Net hedging unrealized gain (loss)		(1	)		13
Unrealized gain on investments		1			0
Total income tax expense	$	0		$	6

XML

Comprehensive Income (Related Tax Effects Allocated To Components Of Comprehensive Income Loss) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011
Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net hedging unrealized loss reclassified to earnings	$ 0	$ (7)
Net hedging unrealized gain (loss)	(1)	13
Unrealized gain on investments	1	0
Total income tax expense	$ 0	$ 6

XML

Derivative Financial Instruments (Aggregate Outstanding Notionals Related To Fair Value Hedges) (Details) (Fair Value Hedging [Member], Commodity [Member])	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011
Live Cattle, In Pounds [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Aggregate notional of derivative designated as hedging	281,000,000	318,000,000
Lean Hogs, In Pounds [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Aggregate notional of derivative designated as hedging	566,000,000	601,000,000

XML

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Tables)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Jan. 01, 2011

Oct. 01, 2011

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements [Abstract]

Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Income

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income for the three months ended December 31, 2011																						in millions
				2014 Guarantors
	TFI Parent			TFM Parent			Guarantors			Eliminations			Subtotal			Non-Guarantors			Eliminations			Total
Sales	$	52		$	4,841		$	3,307		$	(283	)	$	7,865		$	454		$	(42	)	$	8,329
Cost of Sales		8			4,642			3,102			(283	)		7,461			409			(42	)		7,836
Gross Profit		44			199			205			0			404			45			0			493
Selling, General and Administrative		12			50			131			0			181			22			0			215
Operating Income		32			149			74			0			223			23			0			278
Other (Income) Expense:
Interest expense, net		(13	)		32			31			0			63			(3	)		0			47
Other, net		1			0			(6	)		0			(6	)		(7	)		0			(12	)
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries		(127	)		(26	)		(5	)		20			(11	)		(6	)		144			0
Total Other (Income) Expense		(139	)		6			20			20			46			(16	)		144			35
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes		171			143			54			(20	)		177			39			(144	)		243
Income Tax Expense		15			40			16			0			56			16			0			87
Net Income (Loss)		156			103			38			(20	)		121			23			(144	)		156
Less: Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0			0			0			0			0			0			0			0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tyson	$	156		$	103		$	38		$	(20	)	$	121		$	23		$	(144	)	$	156

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income for the three months ended January 1, 2011																						in millions
				2014 Guarantors
	TFI Parent			TFM Parent			Guarantors			Eliminations			Subtotal			Non-Guarantors			Eliminations			Total
Sales	$	105		$	4,333		$	3,155		$	(241	)	$	7,247		$	358		$	(95	)	$	7,615
Cost of Sales		(43	)		4,000			2,926			(241	)		6,685			324			(95	)		6,871
Gross Profit		148			333			229			0			562			34			0			744
Selling, General and Administrative		17			56			148			0			204			25			0			246
Operating Income		131			277			81			0			358			9			0			498
Other (Income) Expense:
Interest expense, net		(54	)		60			58			0			118			(1	)		0			63
Other, net		(12	)		0			(1	)		0			(1	)		3			0			(10	)
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries		(165	)		(22	)		(13	)		20			(15	)		(2	)		182			0
Total Other (Income) Expense		(231	)		38			44			20			102			0			182			53
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes		362			239			37			(20	)		256			9			(182	)		445
Income Tax Expense		64			74			10			0			84			3			0			151
Net Income (Loss)		298			165			27			(20	)		172			6			(182	)		294
Less: Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0			0			0			0			0			(4	)		0			(4	)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tyson	$	298		$	165		$	27		$	(20	)	$	172		$	10		$	(182	)	$	298

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2011																	in millions
			2014 Guarantors
	TFI Parent		TFM Parent		Guarantors		Eliminations			Subtotal		Non-Guarantors		Eliminations			Total
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	0	$	2	$	606	$	0		$	608	$	249	$	0		$	857
Accounts receivable, net		1		473		620		0			1,093		199		(12	)		1,281
Inventories		3		909		1,437		0			2,346		249		0			2,598
Other current assets		43		65		81		(80	)		66		54		(41	)		122
Total Current Assets		47		1,449		2,744		(80	)		4,113		751		(53	)		4,858
Net Property, Plant and Equipment		35		872		2,415		0			3,287		566		0			3,888
Goodwill		0		881		967		0			1,848		43		0			1,891
Intangible Assets		0		30		48		0			78		67		0			145
Other Assets		1,886		174		144		(14	)		304		296		(2,041	)		445
Investment in Subsidiaries		11,504		1,971		842		(1,779	)		1,034		326		(12,864	)		0
Total Assets	$	13,472	$	5,377	$	7,160	$	(1,873	)	$	10,664	$	2,049	$	(14,958	)	$	11,227
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current Liabilities:
Current debt	$	2	$	0	$	0	$	0		$	0	$	82	$	0		$	84
Accounts payable		6		689		594		0			1,283		69		0			1,358
Other current liabilities		5,517		130		325		(80	)		375		430		(5,390	)		932
Total Current Liabilities		5,525		819		919		(80	)		1,658		581		(5,390	)		2,374
Long-Term Debt		1,984		1,044		780		0			1,824		276		(1,953	)		2,131
Deferred Income Taxes		0		113		315		(14	)		414		6		0			420
Other Liabilities		182		143		228		0			371		29		(89	)		493
Total Tyson Shareholders' Equity		5,781		3,258		4,918		(1,779	)		6,397		1,129		(7,526	)		5,781
Noncontrolling Interest		0		0		0		0			0		28		0			28
Total Shareholders' Equity		5,781		3,258		4,918		(1,779	)		6,397		1,157		(7,526	)		5,809
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	$	13,472	$	5,377	$	7,160	$	(1,873	)	$	10,664	$	2,049	$	(14,958	)	$	11,227

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet as of October 1, 2011																	in millions
			2014 Guarantors
	TFI Parent		TFM Parent		Guarantors		Eliminations			Subtotal		Non-Guarantors		Eliminations			Total
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1	$	1	$	414	$	0		$	415	$	300	$	0		$	716
Accounts receivable, net		1		506		656		0			1,162		157		1			1,321
Inventories		2		926		1,440		0			2,366		219		0			2,587
Other current assets		62		95		102		(133	)		64		54		(24	)		156
Total Current Assets		66		1,528		2,612		(133	)		4,007		730		(23	)		4,780
Net Property, Plant and Equipment		37		875		2,369		0			3,244		542		0			3,823
Goodwill		0		881		966		0			1,847		45		0			1,892
Intangible Assets		0		31		49		0			80		69		0			149
Other Assets		2,179		180		147		(15	)		312		296		(2,360	)		427
Investment in Subsidiaries		11,396		1,923		769		(1,760	)		932		319		(12,647	)		0
Total Assets	$	13,678	$	5,418	$	6,912	$	(1,908	)	$	10,422	$	2,001	$	(15,030	)	$	11,071
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current Liabilities:
Current debt	$	2	$	0	$	0	$	0		$	0	$	68	$	0		$	70
Accounts payable		8		525		648		0			1,173		83		0			1,264
Other current liabilities		5,808		144		442		(133	)		453		474		(5,695	)		1,040
Total Current Liabilities		5,818		669		1,090		(133	)		1,626		625		(5,695	)		2,374
Long-Term Debt		1,972		1,198		916		0			2,114		269		(2,243	)		2,112
Deferred Income Taxes		0		120		310		(15	)		415		9		0			424
Other Liabilities		231		142		191		0			333		29		(117	)		476
Total Tyson Shareholders' Equity		5,657		3,289		4,405		(1,760	)		5,934		1,041		(6,975	)		5,657
Noncontrolling Interest		0		0		0		0			0		28		0			28
Total Shareholders' Equity		5,657		3,289		4,405		(1,760	)		5,934		1,069		(6,975	)		5,685
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	$	13,678	$	5,418	$	6,912	$	(1,908	)	$	10,422	$	2,001	$	(15,030	)	$	11,071

Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows [Table Text Block]

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the three months ended December 31, 2011																				in millions
				2014 Guarantors
	TFI Parent			TFM Parent			Guarantors			Eliminations		Subtotal			Non-Guarantors			Eliminations		Total
Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities	$	59		$	332		$	24		$	0	$	356		$	(77	)	$	0	$	338
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment		0			(25	)		(117	)		0		(142	)		(40	)		0		(182	)
(Purchases of)/Proceeds from marketable securities, net		0			2			0			0		2			1			0		3
Other, net		2			2			(1	)		0		1			0			0		3
Cash Provided by (Used for) Investing Activities		2			(21	)		(118	)		0		(139	)		(39	)		0		(176	)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Net change in debt		(1	)		0			0			0		0			21			0		20
Purchases of Tyson Class A common stock		(50	)		0			0			0		0			0			0		(50	)
Dividends		(15	)		0			0			0		0			0			0		(15	)
Other, net		22			0			0			0		0			0			0		22
Net change in intercompany balances		(18	)		(310	)		286			0		(24	)		42			0		0
Cash Provided by (Used for) Financing Activities		(62	)		(310	)		286			0		(24	)		63			0		(23	)
Effect of Exchange Rate Change on Cash		0			0			0			0		0			2			0		2
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents		(1	)		1			192			0		193			(51	)		0		141
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year		1			1			414			0		415			300			0		716
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	0		$	2		$	606		$	0	$	608		$	249		$	0	$	857

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the three months ended January 1, 2011																				in millions
				2014 Guarantors
	TFI Parent			TFM Parent			Guarantors			Eliminations		Subtotal			Non-Guarantors			Eliminations		Total
Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities	$	159		$	275		$	(20	)	$	0	$	255		$	(43	)	$	0	$	371
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment		0			(35	)		(103	)		0		(138	)		(20	)		0		(158	)
(Purchases of)/Proceeds from marketable securities, net		0			(58	)		(21	)		0		(79	)		0			0		(79	)
Other, net		23			0			0			0		0			0			0		23
Cash Provided by (Used for) Investing Activities		23			(93	)		(124	)		0		(217	)		(20	)		0		(214	)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Net change in debt		(35	)		(6	)		0			0		(6	)		40			0		(1	)
Purchases of Tyson Class A common stock		(7	)		0			0			0		0			0			0		(7	)
Dividends		(15	)		0			0			0		0			0			0		(15	)
Other, net		4			0			0			0		0			6			0		10
Net change in intercompany balances		(128	)		(178	)		282			0		104			24			0		0
Cash Provided by (Used for) Financing Activities		(181	)		(184	)		282			0		98			70			0		(13	)
Effect of Exchange Rate Change on Cash		0			0			0			0		0			0			0		0
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents		1			(2	)		138			0		136			7			0		144
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year		2			2			731			0		733			243			0		978
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	3		$	0		$	869		$	0	$	869		$	250		$	0	$	1,122

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Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended						3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011 Dynamic Fuels [Member]	Oct. 01, 2011 Dynamic Fuels [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Common Class A [Member]	May 11, 2011 Common Class A [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Share Repurchase Program [Member] Common Class A [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Open Market Repurchases [Member]	Jan. 01, 2011 Open Market Repurchases [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Ownership interest percentage, investment in Dynamic Fuels, LLC joint venture			50.00%
Variable interest entity total assets			$ 177	$ 170
Variable interest entity property, plant and equipment			142	144
Variable interest entity total liabilities			126	116
Variable interest entity long-term debt			100	100
Remaining shares available to repurchase					11.0	22.5
Common shares repurchased during the period							1.8
Purchases of treasury shares	$ 50	$ 7					$ 35	$ 15	$ 7

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Property, Plant And Equipment

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Property, Plant And Equipment [Abstract]

Property, Plant And Equipment

NOTE 3: PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

The major categories of property, plant and equipment and accumulated depreciation are as follows (in millions):

	December 31, 2011		October 1, 2011
Land	$	95	$	95
Buildings and leasehold improvements		2,732		2,698
Machinery and equipment		4,863		4,897
Land improvements and other		389		386
Buildings and equipment under construction		474		446
		8,553		8,522
Less accumulated depreciation		4,665		4,699
Net property, plant and equipment	$	3,888	$	3,823

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Inventories (Schedule Of Inventories Of Processed Products, Livestock, And Supplies Valued At Lower Of Cost Or Market) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011
Inventories [Line Items]
Total inventories	$ 2,598	$ 2,587
Chicken And Prepared Foods [Member]
Inventories [Line Items]
Weighted-average method	714	715
Beef And Pork [Member]
Inventories [Line Items]
First-in, first-out method	611	581
Livestock [Member]
Inventories [Line Items]
First-in, first-out method	859	928
Supplies And Other [Member]
Inventories [Line Items]
Weighted-average method	$ 414	$ 363

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Earnings Per Share (Schedule Of Earnings Per Share, Basic And Diluted) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Line Items]
Net income	$ 156	$ 294
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	(4)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tyson	156	298
Undistributed earnings	141	283
Stock options and restricted stock	5	5
Convertible 2013 Notes	4	0
Denominator for diluted earnings per share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions	376	379
Net Income Per Share Attributable to Tyson - Diluted	$ 0.42	$ 0.78
Common Class A [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Line Items]
Dividends, common stock, cash	12	12
Undistributed earnings	117	234
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Basic	297	304
Net Income Per Share Attributable to Tyson - Basic	$ 0.43	$ 0.81
Dividends, per share	$ 0.040	$ 0.040
Common Class B [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Line Items]
Dividends, common stock, cash	3	3
Undistributed earnings	$ 24	$ 49
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Basic	70	70
Net Income Per Share Attributable to Tyson - Basic	$ 0.39	$ 0.73
Dividends, per share	$ 0.036	$ 0.036

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Fair Value Measurements (Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Oct. 01, 2011
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Marketable securities accumulated other than temporary impairments amount	$ 2		$ 3
U.S. Treasury And Agency [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	32		33
Fair Value	33		34
Unrealized Gain/(Loss)	1		1
Corporate And Asset-Backed [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	56	[1]	54	[1]
Fair Value	56	[1]	56	[1]
Unrealized Gain/(Loss)	0	[1]	2	[1]
Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	28		27
Fair Value	28		27
Unrealized Gain/(Loss)	0		0
Common Stock [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	9		9
Fair Value	8		7
Unrealized Gain/(Loss)	$ (1)		$ (2)

[1] At December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, the amortized cost basis for Corporate and Asset-Backed debt securities had been reduced by accumulated other than temporary impairments of $2 million and $3 million, respectively.

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Consolidated Condensed Statements Of Income (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Jan. 01, 2011
Sales	$ 8,329		$ 7,615
Cost of Sales	7,836		6,871
Gross Profit	493		744
Selling, General and Administrative	215		246
Operating Income	278		498
Other (Income) Expense:
Interest income	(2)		(3)
Interest expense	49		66
Other, net	(12)		(10)
Total Other (Income) Expense	35	[1]	53	[1]
Income before Income Taxes	243		445
Income Tax Expense	87		151
Net Income (Loss)	156		294
Less: Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0		(4)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tyson	$ 156		$ 298
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:
Diluted	376		379
Net Income Per Share Attributable to Tyson:
Diluted	$ 0.42		$ 0.78
Common Class A [Member]
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic	297		304
Net Income Per Share Attributable to Tyson:
Basic	$ 0.43		$ 0.81
Cash Dividends Per Share:
Cash Dividends	$ 0.040		$ 0.040
Common Class B [Member]
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic	70		70
Net Income Per Share Attributable to Tyson:
Basic	$ 0.39		$ 0.73
Cash Dividends Per Share:
Cash Dividends	$ 0.036		$ 0.036

[1] Includes $11 million gain related to a sale of interests in an equity method investment.

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Derivative Financial Instruments (Gains Or Losses On The Hedging Items) (Details) (Fair Value Hedging [Member], Cost Of Sales [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011
Forward Contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) on forwards	$ (8)	$ (1)
Purchase Contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
(Gain)/Loss on purchase contract	$ 8	$ 1

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Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Accounting Policies

NOTE 1: ACCOUNTING POLICIES

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared by Tyson Foods, Inc. ("Tyson," "the Company," "we," "us" or "our"). Certain information and accounting policies and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Although we believe the disclosures contained herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, these consolidated condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2011. Preparation of consolidated condensed financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated condensed financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

We believe the accompanying consolidated condensed financial statements contain all adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature, necessary to state fairly our financial position as of December 31, 2011, and the results of operations and cash flows for the three months ended December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011. Results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year.

CONSOLIDATION

The consolidated condensed financial statements include the accounts of all wholly-owned subsidiaries, as well as majority-owned subsidiaries over which we exercise control and, when applicable, entities for which we have a controlling financial interest or are the primary beneficiary. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

We have an investment in a joint venture, Dynamic Fuels LLC (Dynamic Fuels), in which we have a 50 percent ownership interest. Dynamic Fuels qualifies as a variable interest entity for which we consolidate as we are the primary beneficiary. At December 31, 2011, Dynamic Fuels had $177 million of total assets, of which $142 million was property, plant and equipment, and $126 million of total liabilities, of which $100 million was long-term debt. At October 1, 2011, Dynamic Fuels had $170 million of total assets, of which $144 million was property, plant and equipment, and $116 million of total liabilities, of which $100 million was long-term debt.

SHARE REPURCHASES

On May 11, 2011, we announced our Board of Directors reactivated a share repurchase program, which had no activity since fiscal 2005, to repurchase up to the remaining available 22.5 million shares of Class A common stock under the program. The share repurchase program has no fixed or scheduled termination date. During the three months ended December 31, 2011, we repurchased 1.8 million shares for approximately $35 million under this plan. As of December 31, 2011, 11 million shares remain authorized for repurchase. The timing and extent to which we repurchase shares will depend upon, among other things, market conditions, liquidity targets, limitations under our debt obligations and regulatory requirements. In addition to the share repurchase program, we purchase shares on the open market to fund certain obligations under our equity compensation plans. These repurchases totaled $15 million and $7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011, respectively.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In May 2011, the FASB clarified the guidance around fair value measurements and disclosures. This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. We will adopt this guidance in the second quarter of fiscal year 2012. We do not expect the adoption will have a significant impact on our consolidated condensed financial statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued guidance regarding the presentation of comprehensive income. This guidance is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. We anticipate we will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal year 2013. Upon adoption, we will be required to present comprehensive income as part of our consolidated condensed statements of income, or in a separate financial statement. Currently, we present such information in our notes to the consolidated condensed financial statements. Other than changing the presentation of comprehensive income, we do not expect the adoption will have a significant impact on our consolidated condensed financial statements.

In September 2011, the FASB issued guidance amending the way companies test for goodwill impairment. This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. We do not expect the adoption will have a significant impact on our consolidated condensed financial statements.

In December 2011, the FASB issued guidance enhancing disclosures related to offsetting of certain assets and liabilities. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. We do not expect the adoption will have a significant impact on our consolidated condensed financial statements.

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Commitments And Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended				3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended							1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011 Obligations Of Certain Outside Third Parties Guarantees [Member] years	Dec. 31, 2011 Residual Value Guarantees [Member]	Mar. 29, 2008 MDL Proceedings [Member]	Oct. 01, 2011 MDL Proceedings [Member]	Oct. 20, 2010 Tyson Prepared Foods Plant [Member]	Jun. 30, 2005 State Of Oklahoma [Member] A	Jun. 30, 2005 State Of Oklahoma [Member] Subsidiaries [Member]	Jun. 30, 2005 State Of Oklahoma [Member] Poultry Integrators [Member]	Jun. 30, 2009 Armstrong Case [Member]	May 08, 2008 Armstrong Case [Member]	May 08, 2008 Armstrong Case [Member] Employees [Member]	Oct. 30, 2009 Clardy Case [Member]	Mar. 17, 2011 Garcia Case [Member]	Sep. 26, 2011 Bouaphakeo Case [Member]	Apr. 30, 2010 Armstrong And Clardy Cases [Member]	Oct. 01, 2011 Minimum [Member] MDL Proceedings [Member]	Oct. 01, 2011 Maximum [Member] MDL Proceedings [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Guarantee obligations, maximum period of exposure			10
Maximum potential amount			$ 73,000,000	$ 51,000,000
Amount recoverable through various recourse provisions				43,000,000
Material liabilities for guarantees	0	0
Potential maximum obligation		220,000,000
Total receivables under cash flow assistance programs	28,000,000	25,000,000
Uncollectible receivables	10,000,000	9,000,000
Number of cases filed					5
Wage and hour actions							12
Loss contingency, damages								800,000,000
Number of plaintiffs							6				10
Number of poultry growers												52		20
Number of defendants to the lawsuit									3	6			2
Area of land encompassed, acres								1,000,000
Final judgment amount																	8,655,735
Settlement agreement, date	September 15, 2011
Settlement agreement, expense no more than															503,011	2,892,379		12,250,000	17,500,000
Settlement agreement, Process	The settlement agreement provides a process for identifying and certifying eligible class members, which includes a 75-day notice period for certain class members to become eligible for payment under the settlement.
Legal fees						$ 14,500,000									$ 3,475,422

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Debt (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			1 Months Ended				3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011 Standby Letters Of Credit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bilateral Letters Of Credit [Member]	Nov. 30, 2008 GO Zone Tax-Exempt Bonds [Member]	Oct. 31, 2008 GO Zone Tax-Exempt Bonds [Member]	Apr. 02, 2011 2016 Notes [Member]	Sep. 27, 2008 2016 Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 10.50% Senior Notes Due March 2014 [Member]	Oct. 01, 2011 10.50% Senior Notes Due March 2014 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2008 3.25% Convertible Senior Unsecured Notes Due October 15, 2013 [Member] years	Dec. 31, 2011 3.25% Convertible Senior Unsecured Notes Due October 15, 2013 [Member]	Oct. 01, 2011 3.25% Convertible Senior Unsecured Notes Due October 15, 2013 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 3.25% Convertible Senior Unsecured Notes Due October 15, 2013 [Member] Conversion Eligibility Provision [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 GO Zone Tax-Exempt Bonds Due October 2033 [Member]	Oct. 01, 2011 GO Zone Tax-Exempt Bonds Due October 2033 [Member]	Apr. 02, 2011 Prior To Credit Rating Adjustment [Member] 2016 Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount available under this facility	$ 1,000,000,000
Line of credit facility, termination date	February 2016
Amount available for borrowing	855,000,000
Letters of credit issued amount		145,000,000
Bilateral letters of credit			50,000,000
Debt instrument, face amount										458,000,000
Interest rate							6.60%	10.50%	10.50%	3.25%	3.25%	3.25%
Interest rate at period end						6.85%								0.07%	0.07%	7.35%
Maturity date								Mar. 01, 2014	Mar. 01, 2014	Oct. 15, 2013	Oct. 01, 2013	Oct. 01, 2013		Oct. 01, 2033	Oct. 01, 2033
Conversion rate										59.1935
Trading days													least 20 trading days during a period of 30 consecutive trading days
Principal amounts for conversion										1,000			1,000
Conversion price, per share										$ 16.89
Minimum percentage of exchange price													$ 130.00%
Minimum trade price													$ 21.96
Measurement period, days													five business days after any 10 consecutive trading days
Percentage trading price per principal amount, upper limit													98.00%
Discount on note										92,000,000
After tax amount recorded to capital in excess of par value										56,000,000
Discount accretion term, years										5
Debt instrument, interest rate, effective percentage										8.26%
Deferred tax assets										36,000,000
Call options purchased in private transactions										94,000,000
Number of class A stock that can be acquired through call options										27
Proceeds from sale of warrants										44,000,000
Shares able to be purchased through warrants										27
Exercise price of warrants, per share										22.31
Warrant exercise price date start										Jan. 01, 2014
Warrant exercise price date end										Mar. 31, 2014
Interest rate swap period in force				five years
Maximum amount of shares that may be issued to satisfy conversion										35.9
Conversion price factoring convertible note hedge and warrant transactions, per share										$ 22.31
Increase in stock price that would result in the issuance of additional stock										10.00%
Additional stock issuance if increase in share price										2.5
Proceeds from the sale of Gulf Opportunity Zone tax-exempt bonds					$ 100,000,000

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Property, Plant And Equipment (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Property, Plant And Equipment [Abstract]

Property, Plant And Equipment And Accumulated Depreciation

	December 31, 2011		October 1, 2011
Land	$	95	$	95
Buildings and leasehold improvements		2,732		2,698
Machinery and equipment		4,863		4,897
Land improvements and other		389		386
Buildings and equipment under construction		474		446
		8,553		8,522
Less accumulated depreciation		4,665		4,699
Net property, plant and equipment	$	3,888	$	3,823

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Debt (Major Components Of Debt) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2008	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility		$ 0	$ 0
Discount on senior notes		(68)	(76)
GO Zone tax-exempt bonds due October 2033		100	100
Other		139	114
Total debt		2,215	2,182
Less current debt		84	70
Total long-term debt		2,131	2,112
3.25% Convertible Senior Unsecured Notes Due October 15, 2013 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes		458	458
Stated interest rate	3.25%	3.25%	3.25%
Maturity date	Oct. 15, 2013	Oct. 01, 2013	Oct. 01, 2013
10.50% Senior Notes Due March 2014 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes		810	810
Stated interest rate		10.50%	10.50%
Maturity date		Mar. 01, 2014	Mar. 01, 2014
6.85% Senior Notes Due April 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes		638	638
Interest rate at period end		6.85%	6.85%
Maturity date		Apr. 01, 2016	Apr. 01, 2016
7.00% Notes Due May 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes		120	120
Stated interest rate		7.00%	7.00%
Maturity date		May 01, 2018	May 01, 2018
7.00% Notes Due January 2028 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes		$ 18	$ 18
Stated interest rate		7.00%	7.00%
Maturity date		Jan. 01, 2028	Jan. 01, 2028
GO Zone Tax-Exempt Bonds Due October 2033 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate at period end		0.07%	0.07%
Maturity date		Oct. 01, 2033	Oct. 01, 2033

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Debt (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Debt [Abstract]

Major Components Of Debt

	December 31, 2011			October 1, 2011
Revolving credit facility	$	0		$	0
Senior notes:
3.25% Convertible senior notes due October 2013 (2013 Notes)		458			458
10.50% Senior notes due March 2014 (2014 Notes)		810			810
6.85% Senior notes due April 2016 (2016 Notes)		638			638
7.00% Notes due May 2018		120			120
7.00% Notes due January 2028		18			18
Discount on senior notes		(68	)		(76	)
GO Zone tax-exempt bonds due October 2033 (0.07% at 12/31/2011)		100			100
Other		139			114
Total debt		2,215			2,182
Less current debt		84			70
Total long-term debt	$	2,131		$	2,112

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Inventories

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Inventories [Abstract]

Inventories

NOTE 2: INVENTORIES

Processed products, livestock and supplies and other are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost includes purchased raw materials, live purchase costs, growout costs (primarily feed, contract grower pay and catch and haul costs), labor and manufacturing and production overhead, which are related to the purchase and production of inventories. Total inventory consists of the following (in millions):

	December 31, 2011		October 1, 2011
Processed products:
Weighted-average method – chicken and prepared foods	$	714	$	715
First-in, first-out method – beef and pork		611		581
Livestock – first-in, first-out method		859		928
Supplies and other – weighted-average method		414		363
Total inventories	$	2,598	$	2,587

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Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 857	$ 716
Accounts receivable, net	1,281	1,321
Inventories	2,598	2,587
Other current assets	122	156
Total Current Assets	4,858	4,780
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	3,888	3,823
Goodwill	1,891	1,892
Intangible Assets	145	149
Other Assets	445	427
Total Assets	11,227	11,071
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current debt	84	70
Accounts payable	1,358	1,264
Other current liabilities	932	1,040
Total Current Liabilities	2,374	2,374
Long-Term Debt	2,131	2,112
Deferred Income Taxes	420	424
Other Liabilities	493	476
Shareholders' Equity:
Capital in excess of par value	2,259	2,261
Retained earnings	3,943	3,801
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(75)	(79)
Treasury stock, at cost - 23 million shares at December 31, 2011, and 22 million shares at October 1, 2011	(385)	(365)
Total Tyson Shareholders' Equity	5,781	5,657
Noncontrolling Interest	28	28
Total Shareholders' Equity	5,809	5,685
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	11,227	11,071
Common Class A [Member]
Shareholders' Equity:
Common stock	32	32
Common Class B [Member]
Shareholders' Equity:
Common stock	$ 7	$ 7

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Segment Reporting

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting

NOTE 12: SEGMENT REPORTING

We operate in four segments: Chicken, Beef, Pork and Prepared Foods. We measure segment profit as operating income (loss).

Chicken: Chicken operations include breeding and raising chickens, as well as processing live chickens into fresh, frozen and value-added chicken products and logistics operations to move products through the supply chain. Products are marketed domestically to food retailers, foodservice distributors, restaurant operators, hotel chains and noncommercial foodservice establishments such as schools, healthcare facilities, the military and other food processors, as well as to international markets. It also includes sales from allied products and our chicken breeding stock subsidiary.

Beef: Beef operations include processing live fed cattle and fabricating dressed beef carcasses into primal and sub-primal meat cuts and case-ready products. This segment also includes sales from allied products such as hides and variety meats, as well as logistics operations to move products through the supply chain. Products are marketed domestically to food retailers, foodservice distributors, restaurant operators, hotel chains and noncommercial foodservice establishments such as schools, healthcare facilities, the military and other food processors, as well as to international markets. Allied products are marketed to manufacturers of pharmaceuticals and technical products.

Pork: Pork operations include processing live market hogs and fabricating pork carcasses into primal and sub-primal cuts and case-ready products. This segment also includes our live swine group, related allied product processing activities and logistics operations to move products through the supply chain. Products are marketed domestically to food retailers, foodservice distributors, restaurant operators, hotel chains and noncommercial foodservice establishments such as schools, healthcare facilities, the military and other food processors, as well as to international markets. We sell allied products to pharmaceutical and technical products manufacturers, as well as a limited number of live swine to pork processors.

Prepared Foods: Prepared Foods operations include manufacturing and marketing frozen and refrigerated food products and logistics operations to move products through the supply chain. Products include pepperoni, bacon, beef and pork pizza toppings, pizza crusts, flour and corn tortilla products, appetizers, prepared meals, ethnic foods, soups, sauces, side dishes, meat dishes and processed meats. Products are marketed domestically to food retailers, foodservice distributors, restaurant operators, hotel chains and noncommercial foodservice establishments such as schools, healthcare facilities, the military and other food processors, as well as to international markets.

The results from Dynamic Fuels are included in Other.

Information on segments and a reconciliation to income before income taxes are as follows (in millions):

	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Sales:
Chicken	$	2,762		$	2,619
Beef		3,467			3,185
Pork		1,475			1,238
Prepared Foods		861			806
Other		54			8
Intersegment Sales		(290	)		(241	)
Total Sales	$	8,329		$	7,615
Operating Income (Loss):
Chicken	$	32		$	181
Beef		31			116
Pork		165			177
Prepared Foods		51			28
Other		(1	)		(4	)
Total Operating Income		278			498
Total Other (Income) Expense		35			53	(a)
Income before Income Taxes	$	243		$	445

(a) Includes $11 million gain related to a sale of interests in an equity method investment.

The Beef segment had sales of $64 million and $50 million in the first quarter of fiscal years 2012 and 2011, respectively, from transactions with other operating segments of the Company and Dynamic Fuels. The Pork segment had sales of $226 million and $191 million in the first quarter of fiscal years 2012 and 2011, respectively, from transactions with other operating segments of the Company. The aforementioned sales from intersegment transactions, which were at market prices, were included in the segment sales in the above table.

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Document And Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Registrant Name	TYSON FOODS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000100493
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-29
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Common Class A [Member]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	298,951,784
Common Class B [Member]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	70,018,755

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Commitments And Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]

Commitments And Contingencies

NOTE 13: COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments

We guarantee obligations of certain outside third parties, which consists of a lease and grower loans, all of which are substantially collateralized by the underlying assets. Terms of the underlying debt cover periods up to ten years, and the maximum potential amount of future payments as of December 31, 2011, was $73 million. We also maintain operating leases for various types of equipment, some of which contain residual value guarantees for the market value of the underlying leased assets at the end of the term of the lease. The remaining terms of the lease maturities cover periods over the next seven years. The maximum potential amount of the residual value guarantees is $51 million, of which $43 million would be recoverable through various recourse provisions and an additional undeterminable recoverable amount based on the fair value of the underlying leased assets. The likelihood of material payments under these guarantees is not considered probable. At December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, no material liabilities for guarantees were recorded.

We have cash flow assistance programs in which certain livestock suppliers participate. Under these programs, we pay an amount for livestock equivalent to a standard cost to grow such livestock during periods of low market sales prices. The amounts of such payments that are in excess of the market sales price are recorded as receivables and accrue interest. Participating suppliers are obligated to repay these receivables balances when market sales prices exceed this standard cost, or upon termination of the agreement. Our maximum obligation associated with these programs is limited to the fair value of each participating livestock supplier's net tangible assets. The potential maximum obligation as of December 31, 2011, was approximately $220 million. The total receivables under these programs were $25 million and $28 million at December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, respectively, and are included, net of allowance for uncollectible amounts, in Other Assets in our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets. Even though these programs are limited to the net tangible assets of the participating livestock suppliers, we also manage a portion of our credit risk associated with these programs by obtaining security interests in livestock suppliers' assets. After analyzing residual credit risks and general market conditions, we have recorded an allowance for these programs' estimated uncollectible receivables of $9 million and $10 million at December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, respectively.

Contingencies

We are involved in various claims and legal proceedings. We routinely assess the likelihood of adverse judgments or outcomes to those matters, as well as ranges of probable losses, to the extent losses are reasonably estimable. We record accruals for such matters to the extent that we conclude a loss is probable and the financial impact, should an adverse outcome occur, is reasonably estimable. Such accruals are reflected in the Company's consolidated condensed financial statements. In our opinion, we have made appropriate and adequate accruals for these matters and believe the probability of a material loss beyond the amounts accrued to be remote; however, the ultimate liability for these matters is uncertain, and if accruals are not adequate, an adverse outcome could have a material effect on the consolidated condensed financial condition or results of operations. Listed below are certain claims made against the Company and/or our subsidiaries for which the potential exposure is considered material to the Company's consolidated condensed financial statements. We believe we have substantial defenses to the claims made and intend to vigorously defend these matters.

Several private lawsuits are pending against us alleging that we failed to compensate poultry plant employees for all hours worked, including overtime compensation, in violation of the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA). These lawsuits include DeAsencio v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (DeAsencio), filed on August 22, 2000, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. This matter involves similar allegations that employees should be paid for the time it takes to engage in pre- and post-shift activities such as changing into and out of protective and sanitary clothing, obtaining clothing and walking to and from the changing area, work areas and break areas. They seek back wages, liquidated damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, and attorneys' fees. Plaintiffs appealed a jury verdict and final judgment entered in our favor on June 22, 2006, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. On September 7, 2007, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reversed the jury verdict and remanded the case to the District Court for further proceedings. We sought rehearing en banc, which was denied by the Court of Appeals on October 5, 2007. The United States Supreme Court denied our petition for a writ of certiorari on June 9, 2008. The new trial date has not been set.

The other private lawsuits referred to above are Sheila Ackles, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (N. Dist. Alabama, October 23, 2006); McCluster, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (M. Dist. Georgia, December 11, 2006); Dobbins, et al. v. Tyson Chicken, Inc., et al. (N.D. Alabama, December 21, 2006); Buchanan, et al. v. Tyson Chicken, Inc., et al. and Potter, et al. v. Tyson Chicken, Inc., et al. (N.D. Alabama, December 22, 2006); Jones, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., Walton, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al. and Williams, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al. (S.D. Mississippi, February 9, 2007); Balch, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (E.D. Oklahoma, March 1, 2007); Adams, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (W.D. Arkansas, March 2, 2007); Atkins, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (M.D. Georgia, March 5, 2007); Laney, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. and Williams, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (M.D. Georgia, May 23, 2007) (the Williams Case). Similar to DeAsencio, each of these matters involves allegations that employees should be paid for the time it takes to engage in pre- and post-shift activities such as changing into and out of protective and sanitary clothing, obtaining clothing and walking to and from the changing area, work areas and break areas. The plaintiffs in each of these lawsuits seek or have sought to act as class representatives on behalf of all current and former employees who were allegedly not paid for time worked and seek back wages, liquidated damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, and attorneys' fees. On April 6, 2007, we filed a motion for transfer of the above named actions for coordinated pretrial proceedings before the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, which was granted on August 17, 2007. These cases and five other cases subsequently filed involving the same allegations (i.e., Armstrong, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (W.D. Tennessee, January 30, 2008); Maldonado, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (E.D. Tennessee, January 31, 2008); White, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (E.D. Texas, February 1, 2008); Meyer, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (W.D. Missouri, February 2, 2008); and Leak, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (W.D. North Carolina, February 6, 2008)), were transferred to the U.S. District Court in the Middle District of Georgia, In re: Tyson Foods, Inc., Fair Labor Standards Act Litigation (MDL Proceedings). On September 2, 2011, the parties executed a settlement agreement and filed a joint motion with the court seeking its approval of the settlement. The court approved the settlement on September 15, 2011, and Tyson will pay at least $12.25 million but no more than $17.5 million in back pay and damages to eligible class members. The settlement agreement provides a process for identifying and certifying eligible class members, which includes a 75-day notice period for certain class members to become eligible for payment under the settlement. In addition, the settlement agreement provides that plaintiffs' attorneys must file an application for fees with the court but that no more than $14.5 million in attorneys' fees and costs will be paid. Plaintiffs' attorneys filed their fee application, which was approved on January 23, 2012.

We have pending twelve separate wage and hour actions involving Tyson Fresh Meats Inc.'s plants located in Lexington, Nebraska (Lopez, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., D. Nebraska, June 30, 2006), Garden City and Emporia, Kansas (Garcia, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., D. Kansas, May 15, 2006), Storm Lake, Iowa (Bouaphakeo (f/k/a Sharp), et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., N.D. Iowa, February 6, 2007), Columbus Junction, Iowa (Guyton (f/k/a Robinson), et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., d.b.a Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., S.D. Iowa, September 12, 2007), Joslin, Illinois (Murray, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., C.D. Illinois, January 2, 2008; and DeVoss v. Tyson Foods, Inc. d.b.a. Tyson Fresh Meats, C.D. Illinois, March 2, 2011), Dakota City, Nebraska (Gomez, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., D. Nebraska, January 16, 2008), Madison, Nebraska (Acosta, et al. v Tyson Foods, Inc. d.b.a Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., D. Nebraska, February 29, 2008), Perry and Waterloo, Iowa (Edwards, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. d.b.a Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., S.D. Iowa, March 20, 2008); Council Bluffs, Iowa (Maxwell (f/k/a Salazar), et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. d.b.a. Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., S.D. Iowa, April 29, 2008); Logansport, Indiana (Carter, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. and Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., N.D. Indiana, April 29, 2008); and Goodlettsville, Tennessee (Abadeer v. Tyson Foods, Inc., and Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., M.D. Tennessee, February 6, 2009). The actions allege we failed to pay employees for all hours worked, including overtime compensation for the time it takes to change into protective work uniforms, safety equipment and other sanitary and protective clothing worn by employees, and for walking to and from the changing area, work areas and break areas in violation of the FLSA and analogous state laws. The plaintiffs seek back wages, liquidated damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, attorneys' fees and costs. Each case is proceeding in its jurisdiction.

• After a trial in the Garcia case, a jury verdict in favor of the plaintiffs was entered on March 17, 2011, with respect to the Garden City, Kansas facility. Exclusive of pre- and post-judgment interest, attorneys' fees and costs, the jury found violations of federal and state laws for pre- and post-shift work activities and awarded damages in the amount of $503,011, respectively. Plaintiffs' counsel has filed an application for attorneys' fees and expenses in the amount of $3,475,422. We contested the application and are currently evaluating our appeal options.

• A jury trial was held in the Lopez case, which involved the Lexington, NE beef plant, and resulted in a jury verdict in favor of Tyson. Judgment was entered and the complaint was dismissed with prejudice, on May 26, 2011. Plaintiffs filed an appeal with the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals on June 16, 2011.

• A jury trial was held in the Bouaphakeo case, which involved the Storm Lake, Iowa pork plant and resulted in a jury verdict in favor of the plaintiffs on September 26, 2011. Exclusive of pre- and post-judgment interest, attorneys' fees and costs, the jury found violations of federal and state laws for pre- and post-shift work activities and awarded damages in the amount of $2,892,379. On October 24, 2011, we renewed our motion for judgment as a matter of law due to a failure of class-wide proof and, in the alternative, for a new trial on damages.

• The Guyton, Maxwell, Acosta, and Gomez cases are scheduled for trials on April 9, 2012, October 22, 2012, January 14, 2013, and March 18, 2013, respectively.

We have pending one wage and hour action involving our Tyson Prepared Foods plant located in Jefferson, Wisconsin (Weissman, et al. v. Tyson Prepared Foods, Inc., Jefferson County (Wisconsin) Circuit Court, October 20, 2010). The plaintiffs allege that employees should be paid for the time it takes to engage in pre- and post-shift activities such as changing into and out of protective and sanitary clothing and the associated time it takes to walk to and from their workstations post-donning and pre-doffing of protective and sanitary clothing. Six named plaintiffs seek to act as state law class representatives on behalf of all current and former employees who were allegedly not paid for time worked and seek back wages, liquidated damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, and attorneys' fees and costs. On May 16, 2011, Plaintiffs filed a motion to certify a state law class of all hourly employees who have worked at the Jefferson plant from October 20, 2008, to the present. We have filed motions for summary judgment seeking dismissal of the claims, or, in the alternative, to limit the claims made for non-compensable clothes changing activities.

On June 19, 2005, the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Environment of the State of Oklahoma filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma against us, three of our subsidiaries and six other poultry integrators. This complaint was subsequently amended. As amended, the complaint asserts a number of state and federal causes of action including, but not limited to, counts under Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and state-law public nuisance theories. The amended complaint asserts that defendants and certain contract growers who are not named in the amended complaint polluted the surface waters, groundwater and associated drinking water supplies of the Illinois River Watershed (IRW) through the land application of poultry litter. Oklahoma asserts that this alleged pollution has also caused extensive injury to the environment (including soils and sediments) of the IRW and that the defendants have been unjustly enriched. Oklahoma's claims cover the entire IRW, which encompasses more than one million acres of land and the natural resources (including lakes and waterways) contained therein. Oklahoma seeks wide-ranging relief, including injunctive relief, compensatory damages in excess of $800 million, an unspecified amount in punitive damages and attorneys' fees.

We and the other defendants have denied liability, asserted various defenses, and filed a third-party complaint that asserts claims against other persons and entities whose activities may have contributed to the pollution alleged in the amended complaint. The district court has stayed proceedings on the third party complaint pending resolution of Oklahoma's claims against the defendants. On October 31, 2008, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss for failure to join the Cherokee Nation as a required party or, in the alternative, for judgment as a matter of law based on the plaintiffs' lack of standing. This motion was granted in part and denied in part on July 22, 2009. In its ruling, the district court dismissed Oklahoma's claims for cost recovery and for natural resources damages under CERCLA and for unjust enrichment under Oklahoma common law. This ruling also narrowed the scope of Oklahoma's remaining claims by dismissing all damage claims under its causes of action for Oklahoma common law nuisance, federal common law nuisance, and Oklahoma common law trespass, leaving only its claims for injunctive relief for trial. On August 18, 2009, the Court granted partial summary judgment in favor of the defendants on Oklahoma's claims for violations of the Oklahoma Registered

Poultry Feeding Operations Act. Oklahoma later voluntarily dismissed the remainder of this claim. On September 2, 2009, the Cherokee Nation filed a motion to intervene in the lawsuit. Its motion to intervene was denied on September 15, 2009, and the Cherokee Nation filed a notice of appeal of that ruling in the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals on September 17, 2009. A non-jury trial of the case began on September 24, 2009. At the close of Oklahoma's case-in-chief, the Court granted the defendants' motions to dismiss claims based on RCRA, nuisance per se, and health risks related to bacteria. The defense rested its case on January 13, 2010, and closing arguments were held on February 11, 2010. On September 21, 2010, the Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's denial of the Cherokee Nation's motion to intervene. On October 6, 2010, the Cherokee Nation and the State of Oklahoma filed a petition for rehearing or en banc review seeking reconsideration of this ruling. The Court of Appeals denied this petition.

On May 8, 2008, a lawsuit was filed against the Company and two of our employees in the District Court of McCurtain County, Oklahoma styled Armstrong, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al. (the Armstrong Case). The lawsuit was brought by a group of 52 poultry growers who allege that certain of our live production practices in Oklahoma constitute fraudulent inducement, fraud, unjust enrichment, negligence, gross negligence, unconscionability, violations of the Oklahoma Business Sales Act, Deceptive Trade Practice violations, violations of the Consumer Protection Act, and conversion, as well as other theories of recovery. The plaintiffs sought damages in an unspecified amount. On October 30, 2009, 20 additional growers represented by the same attorney filed a lawsuit against us in the same court asserting the same or similar claims, which is styled Clardy, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al. (the Clardy Case). In both of these cases we have denied all allegations of wrongdoing. In June 2009, the plaintiffs in the Armstrong case requested an expedited trial date for a smaller group of plaintiffs they claimed were facing imminent financial peril. The Court ultimately severed a group of 10 plaintiffs from the Armstrong Case, and a trial began on March 15, 2010. There were numerous irregularities and rulings during the trial which we believe to have been legally erroneous and highly prejudicial to our right to a fair trial. On April 1, 2010, the jury returned a verdict against us and one of our employees, and on April 2, 2010, the jury returned a punitive damages verdict against us. After a dispute caused by inconsistencies between the multiple verdict forms completed by the jury and apparent confusion by the jury as to how to complete those verdict forms, the Court entered a final judgment in the amount of $8,655,735. Subsequent to the trial, the presiding judge disqualified from the cases and the Oklahoma Supreme Court appointed a new judge to the cases. The Company filed post-trial motions challenging the verdict. Those motions were denied. The Company has appealed the verdict to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. We filed a motion with the trial court to change venue from McCurtain County on the grounds that the numerous irregularities that occurred during the trial, coupled with the attendant publicity, resulted in community bias which would prevent the Company from receiving a fair trial in McCurtain County. The trial court granted this motion and the case will be transferred to Choctaw County, Oklahoma. We filed another motion, which the trial court also granted, to stay all future trials of the claims of the plaintiffs in the Armstrong Case and the Clardy Case pending the outcome of the appeal of the first trial. We also filed a motion to sever all of the plaintiffs' claims into individual cases, which was heard on January 25, 2010. This motion was denied, but the Court took under advisement the sizes and groupings of plaintiffs in future trials. We believe numerous and substantial legal errors were made by the Court during the trial and that a review of and guidance on these issues by the appellate court could have a substantial impact on the outcome of future trials in the Armstrong Case and the Clardy Case.

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Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011
Treasury Stock, at Cost	23,000,000	22,000,000
Common Class A [Member]
Common Stock, Par Value	0.1	0.1
Common Stock, Authorized	900,000,000	900,000,000
Common Stock, Issued	322,000,000	322,000,000
Common Class B [Member]
Common Stock, Par Value	0.1	0.1
Common Stock, Authorized	900,000,000	900,000,000
Common Stock, Issued	70,000,000	70,000,000

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Other Income And Charges

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Other Income And Charges [Abstract]

Other Income And Charges

NOTE 7: OTHER INCOME AND CHARGES

During the first quarter of fiscal 2012, we recorded $6 million of equity earnings in joint ventures and $5 million in net foreign currency exchange gains, which were recorded in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income in Other, net.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2011, we recorded an $11 million gain related to a sale of interests in an equity method investment. This gain was recorded in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income in Other, net.

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Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Income Taxes [Abstract]

Income Taxes

NOTE 6: INCOME TAXES

The effective tax rate was 35.8% and 34.0% for the first quarter of fiscal years 2012 and 2011, respectively. The effective tax rate for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 was impacted by such items as the domestic production deduction and state income taxes.

Unrecognized tax benefits were $173 million and $174 million at December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, respectively. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, that would impact our effective tax rate was $154 million and $155 million at December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, respectively.

We classify interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. At December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, before tax benefits, we had $58 million of accrued interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits.

We are subject to income tax examinations for U.S. federal income taxes for fiscal years 2003 through 2010, and for foreign, state and local income taxes for fiscal years 2001 through 2010. Within the next twelve months, tax audit resolutions could reduce unrecognized tax benefits by approximately $10 million, either because tax positions are sustained on audit or because we agree to their disallowance.

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Other Current Liabilities (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Other Current Liabilities [Abstract]

Schedule Of Other Current Liabilities

	December 31, 2011		October 1, 2011
Accrued salaries, wages and benefits	$	275	$	407
Self-insurance reserves		287		298
Other		370		335
Total other current liabilities	$	932	$	1,040

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Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements [Abstract]

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements

NOTE 14: CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. (TFM Parent), our wholly-owned subsidiary, has fully and unconditionally guaranteed the 2016 Notes. TFM Parent and substantially all of our wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries fully guarantee the 2014 Notes. In the event the 2014 Notes are rated equal to or higher than BBB- and Baa3 by S&P and Moody's, respectively, the guarantees will be suspended. Following a suspension of the guarantees, if the 2014 Notes are rated lower than BBB- or Baa3 by S&P or Moody's, respectively, the guarantees will be reinstated. As of December 31, 2011, the 2014 Notes were rated BBB- and Ba1 by S&P and Moody's, respectively; therefore, the condition for suspension of the guarantees had not been met as of December 31, 2011.The following financial information presents condensed consolidating financial statements, which include Tyson Foods, Inc. (TFI Parent); TFM Parent; the other 2014 Notes' guarantor subsidiaries (Guarantors) on a combined basis; the elimination entries necessary to reflect TFM Parent and the Guarantors, which collectively represent the 2014 Notes' total guarantor subsidiaries (2014 Guarantors), on a combined basis; the 2014 Notes' non-guarantor subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) on a combined basis; the elimination entries necessary to consolidate TFI Parent, the 2014 Guarantors and the Non-Guarantors; and Tyson Foods, Inc. on a consolidated basis, and is provided as an alternative to providing separate financial statements for the guarantor(s).

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income for the three months ended December 31, 2011																						in millions
				2014 Guarantors
	TFI Parent			TFM Parent			Guarantors			Eliminations			Subtotal			Non-Guarantors			Eliminations			Total
Sales	$	52		$	4,841		$	3,307		$	(283	)	$	7,865		$	454		$	(42	)	$	8,329
Cost of Sales		8			4,642			3,102			(283	)		7,461			409			(42	)		7,836
Gross Profit		44			199			205			0			404			45			0			493
Selling, General and Administrative		12			50			131			0			181			22			0			215
Operating Income		32			149			74			0			223			23			0			278
Other (Income) Expense:
Interest expense, net		(13	)		32			31			0			63			(3	)		0			47
Other, net		1			0			(6	)		0			(6	)		(7	)		0			(12	)
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries		(127	)		(26	)		(5	)		20			(11	)		(6	)		144			0
Total Other (Income) Expense		(139	)		6			20			20			46			(16	)		144			35
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes		171			143			54			(20	)		177			39			(144	)		243
Income Tax Expense		15			40			16			0			56			16			0			87
Net Income (Loss)		156			103			38			(20	)		121			23			(144	)		156
Less: Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0			0			0			0			0			0			0			0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tyson	$	156		$	103		$	38		$	(20	)	$	121		$	23		$	(144	)	$	156

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income for the three months ended January 1, 2011																						in millions
				2014 Guarantors
	TFI Parent			TFM Parent			Guarantors			Eliminations			Subtotal			Non-Guarantors			Eliminations			Total
Sales	$	105		$	4,333		$	3,155		$	(241	)	$	7,247		$	358		$	(95	)	$	7,615
Cost of Sales		(43	)		4,000			2,926			(241	)		6,685			324			(95	)		6,871
Gross Profit		148			333			229			0			562			34			0			744
Selling, General and Administrative		17			56			148			0			204			25			0			246
Operating Income		131			277			81			0			358			9			0			498
Other (Income) Expense:
Interest expense, net		(54	)		60			58			0			118			(1	)		0			63
Other, net		(12	)		0			(1	)		0			(1	)		3			0			(10	)
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries		(165	)		(22	)		(13	)		20			(15	)		(2	)		182			0
Total Other (Income) Expense		(231	)		38			44			20			102			0			182			53
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes		362			239			37			(20	)		256			9			(182	)		445
Income Tax Expense		64			74			10			0			84			3			0			151
Net Income (Loss)		298			165			27			(20	)		172			6			(182	)		294
Less: Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0			0			0			0			0			(4	)		0			(4	)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tyson	$	298		$	165		$	27		$	(20	)	$	172		$	10		$	(182	)	$	298

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2011																	in millions
			2014 Guarantors
	TFI Parent		TFM Parent		Guarantors		Eliminations			Subtotal		Non-Guarantors		Eliminations			Total
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	0	$	2	$	606	$	0		$	608	$	249	$	0		$	857
Accounts receivable, net		1		473		620		0			1,093		199		(12	)		1,281
Inventories		3		909		1,437		0			2,346		249		0			2,598
Other current assets		43		65		81		(80	)		66		54		(41	)		122
Total Current Assets		47		1,449		2,744		(80	)		4,113		751		(53	)		4,858
Net Property, Plant and Equipment		35		872		2,415		0			3,287		566		0			3,888
Goodwill		0		881		967		0			1,848		43		0			1,891
Intangible Assets		0		30		48		0			78		67		0			145
Other Assets		1,886		174		144		(14	)		304		296		(2,041	)		445
Investment in Subsidiaries		11,504		1,971		842		(1,779	)		1,034		326		(12,864	)		0
Total Assets	$	13,472	$	5,377	$	7,160	$	(1,873	)	$	10,664	$	2,049	$	(14,958	)	$	11,227
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current Liabilities:
Current debt	$	2	$	0	$	0	$	0		$	0	$	82	$	0		$	84
Accounts payable		6		689		594		0			1,283		69		0			1,358
Other current liabilities		5,517		130		325		(80	)		375		430		(5,390	)		932
Total Current Liabilities		5,525		819		919		(80	)		1,658		581		(5,390	)		2,374
Long-Term Debt		1,984		1,044		780		0			1,824		276		(1,953	)		2,131
Deferred Income Taxes		0		113		315		(14	)		414		6		0			420
Other Liabilities		182		143		228		0			371		29		(89	)		493
Total Tyson Shareholders' Equity		5,781		3,258		4,918		(1,779	)		6,397		1,129		(7,526	)		5,781
Noncontrolling Interest		0		0		0		0			0		28		0			28
Total Shareholders' Equity		5,781		3,258		4,918		(1,779	)		6,397		1,157		(7,526	)		5,809
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	$	13,472	$	5,377	$	7,160	$	(1,873	)	$	10,664	$	2,049	$	(14,958	)	$	11,227

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet as of October 1, 2011																	in millions
			2014 Guarantors
	TFI Parent		TFM Parent		Guarantors		Eliminations			Subtotal		Non-Guarantors		Eliminations			Total
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1	$	1	$	414	$	0		$	415	$	300	$	0		$	716
Accounts receivable, net		1		506		656		0			1,162		157		1			1,321
Inventories		2		926		1,440		0			2,366		219		0			2,587
Other current assets		62		95		102		(133	)		64		54		(24	)		156
Total Current Assets		66		1,528		2,612		(133	)		4,007		730		(23	)		4,780
Net Property, Plant and Equipment		37		875		2,369		0			3,244		542		0			3,823
Goodwill		0		881		966		0			1,847		45		0			1,892
Intangible Assets		0		31		49		0			80		69		0			149
Other Assets		2,179		180		147		(15	)		312		296		(2,360	)		427
Investment in Subsidiaries		11,396		1,923		769		(1,760	)		932		319		(12,647	)		0
Total Assets	$	13,678	$	5,418	$	6,912	$	(1,908	)	$	10,422	$	2,001	$	(15,030	)	$	11,071
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current Liabilities:
Current debt	$	2	$	0	$	0	$	0		$	0	$	68	$	0		$	70
Accounts payable		8		525		648		0			1,173		83		0			1,264
Other current liabilities		5,808		144		442		(133	)		453		474		(5,695	)		1,040
Total Current Liabilities		5,818		669		1,090		(133	)		1,626		625		(5,695	)		2,374
Long-Term Debt		1,972		1,198		916		0			2,114		269		(2,243	)		2,112
Deferred Income Taxes		0		120		310		(15	)		415		9		0			424
Other Liabilities		231		142		191		0			333		29		(117	)		476
Total Tyson Shareholders' Equity		5,657		3,289		4,405		(1,760	)		5,934		1,041		(6,975	)		5,657
Noncontrolling Interest		0		0		0		0			0		28		0			28
Total Shareholders' Equity		5,657		3,289		4,405		(1,760	)		5,934		1,069		(6,975	)		5,685
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	$	13,678	$	5,418	$	6,912	$	(1,908	)	$	10,422	$	2,001	$	(15,030	)	$	11,071

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the three months ended December 31, 2011																				in millions
				2014 Guarantors
	TFI Parent			TFM Parent			Guarantors			Eliminations		Subtotal			Non-Guarantors			Eliminations		Total
Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities	$	59		$	332		$	24		$	0	$	356		$	(77	)	$	0	$	338
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment		0			(25	)		(117	)		0		(142	)		(40	)		0		(182	)
(Purchases of)/Proceeds from marketable securities, net		0			2			0			0		2			1			0		3
Other, net		2			2			(1	)		0		1			0			0		3
Cash Provided by (Used for) Investing Activities		2			(21	)		(118	)		0		(139	)		(39	)		0		(176	)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Net change in debt		(1	)		0			0			0		0			21			0		20
Purchases of Tyson Class A common stock		(50	)		0			0			0		0			0			0		(50	)
Dividends		(15	)		0			0			0		0			0			0		(15	)
Other, net		22			0			0			0		0			0			0		22
Net change in intercompany balances		(18	)		(310	)		286			0		(24	)		42			0		0
Cash Provided by (Used for) Financing Activities		(62	)		(310	)		286			0		(24	)		63			0		(23	)
Effect of Exchange Rate Change on Cash		0			0			0			0		0			2			0		2
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents		(1	)		1			192			0		193			(51	)		0		141
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year		1			1			414			0		415			300			0		716
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	0		$	2		$	606		$	0	$	608		$	249		$	0	$	857

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the three months ended January 1, 2011																				in millions
				2014 Guarantors
	TFI Parent			TFM Parent			Guarantors			Eliminations		Subtotal			Non-Guarantors			Eliminations		Total
Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities	$	159		$	275		$	(20	)	$	0	$	255		$	(43	)	$	0	$	371
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment		0			(35	)		(103	)		0		(138	)		(20	)		0		(158	)
(Purchases of)/Proceeds from marketable securities, net		0			(58	)		(21	)		0		(79	)		0			0		(79	)
Other, net		23			0			0			0		0			0			0		23
Cash Provided by (Used for) Investing Activities		23			(93	)		(124	)		0		(217	)		(20	)		0		(214	)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Net change in debt		(35	)		(6	)		0			0		(6	)		40			0		(1	)
Purchases of Tyson Class A common stock		(7	)		0			0			0		0			0			0		(7	)
Dividends		(15	)		0			0			0		0			0			0		(15	)
Other, net		4			0			0			0		0			6			0		10
Net change in intercompany balances		(128	)		(178	)		282			0		104			24			0		0
Cash Provided by (Used for) Financing Activities		(181	)		(184	)		282			0		98			70			0		(13	)
Effect of Exchange Rate Change on Cash		0			0			0			0		0			0			0		0
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents		1			(2	)		138			0		136			7			0		144
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year		2			2			731			0		733			243			0		978
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	3		$	0		$	869		$	0	$	869		$	250		$	0	$	1,122

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Fair Value Measurements

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

NOTE 10: FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy contains three levels as follows:

Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices available in active markets for the identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.

Level 2 — Other observable inputs available at the measurement date, other than quoted prices included in Level 1, either directly or indirectly, including:

• Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;

• Quoted prices for identical or similar assets in non-active markets;

• Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and

• Inputs derived principally from or corroborated by other observable market data.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that cannot be corroborated by observable market data and reflect the use of significant management judgment. These values are generally determined using pricing models for which the assumptions utilize management's estimates of market participant assumptions.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The fair value hierarchy requires the use of observable market data when available. In instances where the inputs used to measure fair value fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the fair value measurement has been determined based on the lowest level input significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Our assessment of the significance of a particular item to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, including the consideration of inputs specific to the asset or liability. The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy our financial assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis according to the valuation techniques we used to determine their fair values (in millions):

December 31, 2011	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Netting (a)			Total
Assets:
Commodity Derivatives	$	0	$	40	$	0	$	(30	)	$	10
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts		0		2		0		0			2
Available for Sale Securities:
Debt securities		0		33		84		0			117
Equity securities		8		0		0		0			8
Deferred Compensation Assets		28		130		0		0			158
Total Assets	$	36	$	205	$	84	$	(30	)	$	295
Liabilities:
Commodity Derivatives	$	0	$	62	$	0	$	(61	)	$	1
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts		0		1		0		(1	)		0
Interest Rate Swap		0		1		0		0			1
Total Liabilities	$	0	$	64	$	0	$	(62	)	$	2

October 1, 2011	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Netting (a)			Total
Assets:
Commodity Derivatives	$	0	$	24	$	0	$	(21	)	$	3
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts		0		17		0		(2	)		15
Available for Sale Securities:
Debt securities		0		34		83		0			117
Equity securities		7		0		0		0			7
Deferred Compensation Assets		28		122		0		0			150
Total Assets	$	35	$	197	$	83	$	(23	)	$	292
Liabilities:
Commodity Derivatives	$	0	$	162	$	0	$	(135	)	$	27
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts		0		1		0		(1	)		0
Interest Rate Swap		0		2		0		0			2
Total Liabilities	$	0	$	165	$	0	$	(136	)	$	29

(a) Our derivative assets and liabilities are presented in our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets on a net basis. We net derivative assets and liabilities, including cash collateral, when a legally enforceable master netting arrangement exists between the counterparty to a derivative contract and us. At December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, we had posted with various counterparties $32 million and $113 million, respectively, of cash collateral and held no cash collateral.

The following table provides a reconciliation between the beginning and ending balance of debt securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the table above that used significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) (in millions):

	Three months ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Balance at beginning of year	$	83		$	73
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in earnings		1			0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss)		(2	)		0
Purchases		6			2
Issuances		0			0
Settlements		(4	)		(4	)
Balance at end of period	$	84		$	71
Total gains (losses) for the three-month period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets and liabilities still held at end of period	$	0		$	0

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument:

Derivative Assets and Liabilities: Our derivatives, including commodities, foreign exchange contracts and an interest rate swap, primarily include exchange-traded and over-the-counter contracts which are further described in Note 9: Derivative Financial Instruments. We record our commodity derivatives at fair value using quoted market prices adjusted for credit and non-performance risk and internal models that use as their basis readily observable market inputs including current and forward commodity market prices. Our foreign exchange forward contracts are recorded at fair value based on quoted prices and spot and forward currency prices adjusted for credit and non-performance risk. Our interest rate swap is recorded at fair value based on quoted LIBOR swap rates adjusted for credit and non-performance risk. We classify these instruments in Level 2 when quoted market prices can be corroborated utilizing observable current and forward commodity market prices on active exchanges, observable market transactions of spot currency rates and forward currency prices or observable benchmark market rates at commonly quoted intervals.

Available for Sale Securities: Our investments in marketable debt securities are classified as available-for-sale and are included in Other Assets in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets. These investments, which are generally long-term in nature with maturities ranging up to 36 years, are reported at fair value based on pricing models and quoted market prices adjusted for credit and non-performance risk. We classify our investments in U.S. government and agency debt securities as Level 2 as fair value is generally estimated using discounted cash flow models that are primarily industry-standard models that consider various assumptions, including time value and yield curve as well as other readily available relevant economic measures. We classify certain corporate, asset-backed and other debt securities as Level 3 as there is limited activity or less observable inputs into proprietary valuation models, including estimated prepayment, default and recovery rates on the underlying portfolio or structured investment vehicle.

Additionally, we have eight million shares of Syntroleum Corporation common stock and 4.25 million warrants, which expire in early fiscal 2014, to purchase an equivalent amount of Syntroleum Corporation common stock at an average price of $2.87. We record the shares and warrants in Other Assets in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets at fair value based on quoted market prices. We classify the shares as Level 1 as the fair value is based on unadjusted quoted prices available in active markets. We classify the warrants as Level 2 as fair value can be corroborated based on observable market data.

(in millions)	December 31, 2011							October 1, 2011
	Amortized Cost Basis		Fair Value		Unrealized Gain/(Loss)			Amortized Cost Basis		Fair Value		Unrealized Gain/(Loss)
Available for Sale Securities:
Debt Securities:
U.S. Treasury and Agency	$	32	$	33	$	1		$	33	$	34	$	1
Corporate and Asset-Backed (a)		56		56		0			54		56		2
Redeemable Preferred Stock		28		28		0			27		27		0
Equity Securities:
Common Stock		9		8		(1	)		9		7		(2	)

(a) At December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, the amortized cost basis for Corporate and Asset-Backed debt securities had been reduced by accumulated other than temporary impairments of $2 million and $3 million, respectively.

Unrealized holding gains (losses), net of tax, are excluded from earnings and reported in OCI until the security is settled or sold. On a quarterly basis, we evaluate whether losses related to our available-for-sale securities are temporary in nature. Losses on equity securities are recognized in earnings if the decline in value is judged to be other than temporary. If losses related to our debt securities are determined to be other than temporary, the loss would be recognized in earnings if we intend, or more likely than not will be required, to sell the security prior to recovery. For debt securities in which we have the intent and ability to hold until maturity, losses determined to be other than temporary would remain in OCI, other than expected credit losses which are recognized in earnings. We consider many factors in determining whether a loss is temporary, including the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been below cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer and our ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery. We recognized no other than temporary impairments in earnings for the three month periods ending December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011. No other than temporary losses were deferred in OCI as of December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011.

Deferred Compensation Assets: We maintain non-qualified deferred compensation plans for certain executives and other highly compensated employees. Investments are maintained within a trust and include money market funds, mutual funds and life insurance policies. The cash surrender value of the life insurance policies is invested primarily in mutual funds. The investments are recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices and are included in Other Assets in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets. We classify the investments which have observable market prices in active markets in Level 1 as these are generally publicly-traded mutual funds. The remaining deferred compensation assets are classified in Level 2, as fair value can be corroborated based on observable market data. Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on deferred compensation are included in earnings.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

In addition to assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, we record assets and liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Generally, assets are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as a result of impairment charges. We did not have any significant measurements of assets or liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis subsequent to their initial recognition during the three months ended December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011.

Other Financial Instruments

Fair values for debt are based on quoted market prices or published forward interest rate curves. Fair value and carrying value for our debt were as follows (in millions):

	December 31, 2011				October 1, 2011
	Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value
Total Debt	$	2,371	$	2,215	$	2,334	$	2,182

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Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Income) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Jan. 01, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales	$ 8,329		$ 7,615
Cost of Sales	7,836		6,871
Gross Profit	493		744
Selling, General and Administrative	215		246
Operating Income	278		498
Other (Income) Expense:
Interest expense, net	47		63
Other, net	(12)		(10)
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries	0		0
Total Other (Income) Expense	35	[1]	53	[1]
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes	243		445
Income Tax Expense	87		151
Net Income (Loss)	156		294
Less: Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0		(4)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tyson	156		298
TFI Parent [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales	52		105
Cost of Sales	8		(43)
Gross Profit	44		148
Selling, General and Administrative	12		17
Operating Income	32		131
Other (Income) Expense:
Interest expense, net	(13)		(54)
Other, net	1		(12)
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries	(127)		(165)
Total Other (Income) Expense	(139)		(231)
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes	171		362
Income Tax Expense	15		64
Net Income (Loss)	156		298
Less: Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0		0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tyson	156		298
TFM Parent, Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales	4,841		4,333
Cost of Sales	4,642		4,000
Gross Profit	199		333
Selling, General and Administrative	50		56
Operating Income	149		277
Other (Income) Expense:
Interest expense, net	32		60
Other, net	0		0
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries	(26)		(22)
Total Other (Income) Expense	6		38
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes	143		239
Income Tax Expense	40		74
Net Income (Loss)	103		165
Less: Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0		0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tyson	103		165
Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales	3,307		3,155
Cost of Sales	3,102		2,926
Gross Profit	205		229
Selling, General and Administrative	131		148
Operating Income	74		81
Other (Income) Expense:
Interest expense, net	31		58
Other, net	(6)		(1)
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries	(5)		(13)
Total Other (Income) Expense	20		44
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes	54		37
Income Tax Expense	16		10
Net Income (Loss)	38		27
Less: Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0		0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tyson	38		27
Eliminations, Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales	(283)		(241)
Cost of Sales	(283)		(241)
Gross Profit	0		0
Selling, General and Administrative	0		0
Operating Income	0		0
Other (Income) Expense:
Interest expense, net	0		0
Other, net	0		0
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries	20		20
Total Other (Income) Expense	20		20
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes	(20)		(20)
Income Tax Expense	0		0
Net Income (Loss)	(20)		(20)
Less: Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0		0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tyson	(20)		(20)
Subtotal, Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales	7,865		7,247
Cost of Sales	7,461		6,685
Gross Profit	404		562
Selling, General and Administrative	181		204
Operating Income	223		358
Other (Income) Expense:
Interest expense, net	63		118
Other, net	(6)		(1)
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries	(11)		(15)
Total Other (Income) Expense	46		102
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes	177		256
Income Tax Expense	56		84
Net Income (Loss)	121		172
Less: Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0		0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tyson	121		172
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales	454		358
Cost of Sales	409		324
Gross Profit	45		34
Selling, General and Administrative	22		25
Operating Income	23		9
Other (Income) Expense:
Interest expense, net	(3)		(1)
Other, net	(7)		3
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries	(6)		(2)
Total Other (Income) Expense	(16)		0
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes	39		9
Income Tax Expense	16		3
Net Income (Loss)	23		6
Less: Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0		(4)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tyson	23		10
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales	(42)		(95)
Cost of Sales	(42)		(95)
Gross Profit	0		0
Selling, General and Administrative	0		0
Operating Income	0		0
Other (Income) Expense:
Interest expense, net	0		0
Other, net	0		0
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries	144		182
Total Other (Income) Expense	144		182
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes	(144)		(182)
Income Tax Expense	0		0
Net Income (Loss)	(144)		(182)
Less: Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0		0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tyson	$ (144)		$ (182)

[1] Includes $11 million gain related to a sale of interests in an equity method investment.

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Earnings Per Share

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share

NOTE 8: EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in millions, except per share data):

	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011		January 1, 2011
Numerator:
Net income	$	156	$	294
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		0		(4	)
Net income attributable to Tyson		156		298
Less Dividends:
Class A ($0.040/share)		12		12
Class B ($0.036/share)		3		3
Undistributed earnings	$	141	$	283
Class A undistributed earnings	$	117	$	234
Class B undistributed earnings		24		49
Total undistributed earnings	$	141	$	283
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per share:
Class A weighted average shares		297		304
Class B weighted average shares, and shares under the if-converted method for diluted earnings per share		70		70
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and restricted stock		5		5
Convertible 2013 Notes		4		0
Denominator for diluted earnings per share – adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions		376		379
Net Income Per Share Attributable to Tyson:
Class A Basic	$	0.43	$	0.81
Class B Basic	$	0.39	$	0.73
Diluted	$	0.42	$	0.78

Approximately 4 million of our stock-based compensation shares were antidilutive for both the three months ended December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011. These shares were not included in the dilutive earnings per share calculation.

We have two classes of capital stock, Class A stock and Class B stock. Cash dividends cannot be paid to holders of Class B stock unless they are simultaneously paid to holders of Class A stock. The per share amount of cash dividends paid to holders of Class B stock cannot exceed 90% of the cash dividends paid to holders of Class A stock.

We allocate undistributed earnings based upon a 1 to 0.9 ratio per share to Class A stock and Class B stock, respectively. We allocate undistributed earnings based on this ratio due to historical dividend patterns, voting control of Class B shareholders and contractual limitations of dividends to Class B stock.

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Derivative Financial Instruments

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Derivative Financial Instruments [Abstract]

Derivative Financial Instruments

NOTE 9: DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Our business operations give rise to certain market risk exposures mostly due to changes in commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. We manage a portion of these risks through the use of derivative financial instruments, primarily futures and options, to reduce our exposure to commodity price risk, foreign currency risk and interest rate risk. Forward contracts on various commodities, including grains, livestock and energy, are primarily entered into to manage the price risk associated with forecasted purchases of these inputs used in our production processes. Foreign exchange forward contracts are entered into to manage the fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, primarily as a result of certain receivable and payable balances. We also periodically utilize interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risk associated with our variable-rate borrowings.

Our risk management programs are periodically reviewed by our Board of Directors' Audit Committee. These programs are monitored by senior management and may be revised as market conditions dictate. Our current risk management programs utilize industry-standard models that take into account the implicit cost of hedging. Risks associated with our market risks and those created by derivative instruments and the fair values are strictly monitored at all times, using Value-at-Risk and stress tests. Credit risks associated with our derivative contracts are not significant as we minimize counterparty concentrations, utilize margin accounts or letters of credit, and deal with credit-worthy counterparties. Additionally, our derivative contracts are mostly short-term in duration and we generally do not make use of credit-risk-related contingent features. No significant concentrations of credit risk existed at December 31, 2011.

We recognize all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets, with the exception of normal purchases and normal sales expected to result in physical delivery. The accounting for changes in the fair value (i.e., gains or losses) of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and the type of hedging relationship. For those derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, we designate the hedging instrument based upon the exposure being hedged (i.e., fair value hedge, cash flow hedge, or hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation). We qualify, or designate, a derivative financial instrument as a hedge when contract terms closely mirror those of the hedged item, providing a high degree of risk reduction and correlation. If a derivative instrument is accounted for as a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the instrument either will be offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities or firm commitments through earnings, or be recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) (OCI) until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of an instrument's change in fair value is recognized in earnings immediately. We designate certain forward and option contracts as follows:

• Cash Flow Hedges – include certain commodity forward and option contracts of forecasted purchases (i.e., grains) and certain foreign exchange forward contracts.

• Fair Value Hedges – include certain commodity forward contracts of forecasted purchases (i.e., livestock).

• Net Investment Hedges – include certain foreign currency forward contracts of permanently invested capital in certain foreign subsidiaries.  

Cash flow hedges

Derivative instruments, such as futures and options, are designated as hedges against changes in the amount of future cash flows related to procurement of certain commodities utilized in our production processes. We do not purchase forward and option commodity contracts in excess of our physical consumption requirements and generally do not hedge forecasted transactions beyond 18 months. The objective of these hedges is to reduce the variability of cash flows associated with the forecasted purchase of those commodities. For the derivative instruments we designate and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of OCI and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Gains and losses representing hedge ineffectiveness are recognized in earnings in the current period. Ineffectiveness related to our cash flow hedges was not significant for the three months ended December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011.

We had the following aggregated notionals of outstanding forward and option contracts accounted for as cash flow hedges:

	Metric		December 31, 2011		October 1, 2011
Commodity:
Corn		Bushels		7 million		6 million
Soy meal		Tons		22,200		82,300
Foreign Currency		United States dollar	$	22 million	$	75 million

As of December 31, 2011, the net amounts expected to be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months are pretax losses of $13 million related to grain. Pretax losses expected to be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months related to foreign currency are not significant as of December 31, 2011. During the three months ended December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011, we did not reclassify significant pretax gains/losses into earnings as a result of the discontinuance of cash flow hedges due to the probability the original forecasted transaction would not occur by the end of the originally specified time period or within the additional period of time allowed by generally accepted accounting principles.

The following table sets forth the pretax impact of cash flow hedge derivative instruments on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income (in millions):

	Gain/(Loss) Recognized in OCI On Derivatives					Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income Classification		Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from OCI to Earnings
	Three Months Ended							Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011				December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Cash Flow Hedge – Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts	$	2		$	25		Cost of Sales	$	(6	)	$	20
Foreign exchange contracts		(5	)		0		Other Income/Expense		5			0
Total	$	(3	)	$	25			$	(1	)	$	20

Fair value hedges

We designate certain futures contracts as fair value hedges of firm commitments to purchase livestock for slaughter. Our objective of these hedges is to minimize the risk of changes in fair value created by fluctuations in commodity prices associated with fixed price livestock firm commitments. We had the following aggregated notionals of outstanding forward contracts entered into to hedge forecasted commodity purchases which are accounted for as a fair value hedge:

	Metric		December 31, 2011		October 1, 2011
Commodity:
Live Cattle		Pounds		281 million		318 million
Lean Hogs		Pounds		566 million		601 million

For these derivative instruments we designate and qualify as a fair value hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative, as well as the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk, are recognized in earnings in the same period. We include the gain or loss on the hedged items (i.e., livestock purchase firm commitments) in the same line item, Cost of Sales, as the offsetting gain or loss on the related livestock forward position.

						in millions
	Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income Classification		December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Gain/(Loss) on forwards		Cost of Sales	$	(8	)	$	(1	)
Gain/(Loss) on purchase contract		Cost of Sales		8			1

Ineffectiveness related to our fair value hedges was not significant for the three months ended December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011.

Foreign net investment hedges

We utilize forward foreign exchange contracts to protect the value of our net investments in certain foreign subsidiaries. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a hedge of a net investment in a foreign currency, the gain or loss is reported in OCI as part of the cumulative translation adjustment to the extent it is effective, with the related amounts due to or from counterparties included in other liabilities or other assets. We utilize the forward-rate method of assessing hedge effectiveness. Any ineffective portions of net investment hedges are recognized in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income during the period of change. Ineffectiveness related to our foreign net investment hedges was not significant for the three months ended December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011. At both December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, we had $35 million aggregate outstanding notionals related to our forward foreign currency contracts accounted for as foreign net investment hedges.

The following table sets forth the pretax impact of these derivative instruments on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income (in millions):

	Gain/(Loss) Recognized in OCI On Derivatives						Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income Classification		Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from OCI to Earnings
	Three Months Ended								Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011					December 31, 2011		January 1, 2011
Net Investment Hedge – Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Foreign exchange contracts	$	(1	)	$	(1	)		Other Income/Expense	$	0	$	0

Undesignated positions

In addition to our designated positions, we also hold forward and option contracts for which we do not apply hedge accounting. These include certain derivative instruments related to commodities price risk, including grains, livestock and energy, foreign currency risk and interest rate risk. We mark these positions to fair value through earnings at each reporting date. We generally do not enter into undesignated positions beyond 18 months.

The objective of our undesignated grains, energy and livestock commodity positions is to reduce the variability of cash flows associated with the forecasted purchase of certain grains, energy and livestock inputs to our production processes. We also enter into certain forward sales of boxed beef and boxed pork and forward purchases of cattle and hogs at fixed prices. The fixed price sales contracts lock in the proceeds from a sale in the future and the fixed cattle and hog purchases lock in the cost. However, the cost of the livestock and the related boxed beef and boxed pork market prices at the time of the sale or purchase could vary from this fixed price. As we enter into fixed forward sales of boxed beef and boxed pork and forward purchases of cattle and hogs, we also enter into the appropriate number of livestock futures positions to mitigate a portion of this risk. Changes in market value of the open livestock futures positions are marked to market and reported in earnings at each reporting date, even though the economic impact of our fixed prices being above or below the market price is only realized at the time of sale or purchase. These positions generally do not qualify for hedge treatment due to location basis differences between the commodity exchanges and the actual locations when we purchase the commodities.

We have a foreign currency cash flow hedging program to hedge portions of forecasted transactions denominated in foreign currencies, primarily with forward and option contracts, to protect against the reduction in value of forecasted foreign currency cash flows. Our undesignated foreign currency positions generally would qualify for cash flow hedge accounting. However, to reduce earnings volatility, we normally will not elect hedge accounting treatment when the position provides an offset to the underlying related transaction that currently impacts earnings.

The objective of our undesignated interest rate swap is to manage interest rate risk exposure on a floating-rate bond. Our interest rate swap agreement effectively modifies our exposure to interest rate risk by converting a portion of the floating-rate bond to a fixed rate basis for the first five years, thus reducing the impact of the interest-rate changes on future interest expense. This interest rate swap does not qualify for hedge treatment due to differences in the underlying bond and swap contract interest-rate indices.

We had the following aggregate outstanding notionals related to our undesignated positions:

	Metric		December 31, 2011		October 1, 2011
Commodity:
Corn		Bushels		13 million		17 million
Soy Meal		Tons		85,800		174,600
Soy Oil		Pounds		0		13 million
Live Cattle		Pounds		46 million		72 million
Lean Hogs		Pounds		138 million		19 million
Foreign Currency		United States dollars	$	132 million	$	110 million
Interest Rate		Average monthly notional debt	$	36 million	$	39 million

The following table sets forth the pretax impact of the undesignated derivative instruments on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income (in millions):

	Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income Classification		Gain/(Loss) Recognized in Earnings
			Three Months Ended
			December  31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts		Sales	$	(3	)	$	14
Commodity contracts		Cost of Sales		29			21
Foreign exchange contracts		Other Income/Expense		3			(1	)
Total			$	29		$	34

The following table sets forth the fair value of all derivative instruments outstanding in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (in millions):

	Fair Value
	December 31, 2011		October 1, 2011
Derivative Assets:
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts	$	26	$	3
Foreign exchange contracts		1		12
Total derivative assets – designated		27		15
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts		14		21
Foreign exchange contracts		1		5
Total derivative assets – not designated		15		26
Total derivative assets	$	42	$	41
Derivative Liabilities:
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts	$	8	$	41
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts		54		121
Foreign exchange contracts		1		1
Interest rate contracts		1		2
Total derivative liabilities – not designated		56		124
Total derivative liabilities	$	64	$	165

Our derivative assets and liabilities are presented in our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets on a net basis. We net derivative assets and liabilities, including cash collateral when a legally enforceable master netting arrangement exists between the counterparty to a derivative contract and us. See Note 10: Fair Value Measurements for a reconciliation to amounts reported in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets in Other current assets and Other current liabilities.

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Comprehensive Income

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Comprehensive Income [Abstract]

Comprehensive Income

NOTE 11: COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The components of comprehensive income are as follows (in millions):

	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Net income	$	156		$	294
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Net hedging unrealized (gain) loss reclassified to earnings		1			(13	)
Net hedging unrealized gain (loss)		(2	)		12
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments		1			(2	)
Currency translation adjustment		3			(5	)
Postretirement benefits reserve adjustments		1			0
Total comprehensive income		160			286
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		0			(4	)
Total comprehensive income attributable to Tyson	$	160		$	290

The related tax effects allocated to the components of comprehensive income are as follows (in millions):

	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Income tax expense (benefit):
Net hedging unrealized loss reclassified to earnings	$	0		$	(7	)
Net hedging unrealized gain (loss)		(1	)		13
Unrealized gain on investments		1			0
Total income tax expense	$	0		$	6

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Other Current Liabilities (Schedule Of Other Current Liabilities) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011
Other Current Liabilities [Abstract]
Accrued salaries, wages and benefits	$ 275	$ 407
Self-insurance reserves	287	298
Other	370	335
Total other current liabilities	$ 932	$ 1,040

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Fair Value Measurements (Schedule Of Assets And Liabilities Measured At Fair Value On A Recurring Basis) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Assets Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts	$ 2,000,000	$ 15,000,000
Deferred Compensation Assets	158,000,000	150,000,000
Total Assets	295,000,000	292,000,000
Liabilities Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts	0	0
Liabilities Interest Rate Swap	1,000,000	2,000,000
Total Liabilities	2,000,000	29,000,000
Derivative assets and liabilities posted cash collateral	32,000,000	113,000,000
Cash collateral held	0	0
Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Assets Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts	0	0
Deferred Compensation Assets	28,000,000	28,000,000
Total Assets	36,000,000	35,000,000
Liabilities Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts	0	0
Liabilities Interest Rate Swap	0	0
Total Liabilities	0	0
Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Assets Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts	2,000,000	17,000,000
Deferred Compensation Assets	130,000,000	122,000,000
Total Assets	205,000,000	197,000,000
Liabilities Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts	1,000,000	1,000,000
Liabilities Interest Rate Swap	1,000,000	2,000,000
Total Liabilities	64,000,000	165,000,000
Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Assets Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts	0	0
Deferred Compensation Assets	0	0
Total Assets	84,000,000	83,000,000
Liabilities Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts	0	0
Liabilities Interest Rate Swap	0	0
Total Liabilities	0	0
Netting [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Assets Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts	0	(2,000,000)	[1]
Deferred Compensation Assets	0	0	[1]
Total Assets	(30,000,000)	(23,000,000)	[1]
Liabilities Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts	(1,000,000)	(1,000,000)	[1]
Liabilities Interest Rate Swap	0	0	[1]
Total Liabilities	(62,000,000)	(136,000,000)	[1]
Equity Securities [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Assets Securities	8,000,000	7,000,000
Equity Securities [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Assets Securities	8,000,000	7,000,000
Equity Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Assets Securities	0	0
Equity Securities [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Assets Securities	0	0
Equity Securities [Member] | Netting [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Assets Securities	0	0	[1]
Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Assets Securities	117,000,000	117,000,000
Debt Securities [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Assets Securities	0	0
Debt Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Assets Securities	33,000,000	34,000,000
Debt Securities [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Assets Securities	84,000,000	83,000,000
Debt Securities [Member] | Netting [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Assets Securities	0	0	[1]
Commodity [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Assets Commodity Derivatives	10,000,000	3,000,000
Liabilities Commodity Derivatives	1,000,000	27,000,000
Commodity [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Assets Commodity Derivatives	0	0
Liabilities Commodity Derivatives	0	0
Commodity [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Assets Commodity Derivatives	40,000,000	24,000,000
Liabilities Commodity Derivatives	62,000,000	162,000,000
Commodity [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Assets Commodity Derivatives	0	0
Liabilities Commodity Derivatives	0	0
Commodity [Member] | Netting [Member]
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Assets Commodity Derivatives	(30,000,000)	(21,000,000)	[1]
Liabilities Commodity Derivatives	$ (61,000,000)	$ (135,000,000)	[1]

[1] Our derivative assets and liabilities are presented in our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets on a net basis. We net derivative assets and liabilities, including cash collateral, when a legally enforceable master netting arrangement exists between the counterparty to a derivative contract and us. At December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, we had posted with various counterparties $32 million and $113 million, respectively, of cash collateral and held no cash collateral.

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Inventories (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Inventories [Abstract]

Schedule Of Inventories Of Processed Products, Livestock, And Supplies Valued At Lower Of Cost Or Market

	December 31, 2011		October 1, 2011
Processed products:
Weighted-average method – chicken and prepared foods	$	714	$	715
First-in, first-out method – beef and pork		611		581
Livestock – first-in, first-out method		859		928
Supplies and other – weighted-average method		414		363
Total inventories	$	2,598	$	2,587

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Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Derivative [Line Items]

Schedule Of Derivative Instruments In Statement Of Financial Position, Fair Value

	Fair Value
	December 31, 2011		October 1, 2011
Derivative Assets:
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts	$	26	$	3
Foreign exchange contracts		1		12
Total derivative assets – designated		27		15
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts		14		21
Foreign exchange contracts		1		5
Total derivative assets – not designated		15		26
Total derivative assets	$	42	$	41
Derivative Liabilities:
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts	$	8	$	41
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts		54		121
Foreign exchange contracts		1		1
Interest rate contracts		1		2
Total derivative liabilities – not designated		56		124
Total derivative liabilities	$	64	$	165

Cash Flow Hedge [Member]

Derivative [Line Items]

Schedule Of Notional Amount Of Derivatives

	Metric		December 31, 2011		October 1, 2011
Commodity:
Corn		Bushels		7 million		6 million
Soy meal		Tons		22,200		82,300
Foreign Currency		United States dollar	$	22 million	$	75 million

Schedule Of Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) In Statement Of Financial Performance

	Gain/(Loss) Recognized in OCI On Derivatives					Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income Classification		Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from OCI to Earnings
	Three Months Ended							Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011				December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Cash Flow Hedge – Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts	$	2		$	25		Cost of Sales	$	(6	)	$	20
Foreign exchange contracts		(5	)		0		Other Income/Expense		5			0
Total	$	(3	)	$	25			$	(1	)	$	20

Fair Value Hedging [Member]

Derivative [Line Items]

Schedule Of Notional Amount Of Derivatives

	Metric		December 31, 2011		October 1, 2011
Commodity:
Live Cattle		Pounds		281 million		318 million
Lean Hogs		Pounds		566 million		601 million

Schedule Of Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) In Statement Of Financial Performance

						in millions
	Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income Classification		December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Gain/(Loss) on forwards		Cost of Sales	$	(8	)	$	(1	)
Gain/(Loss) on purchase contract		Cost of Sales		8			1

Net Investment Hedging [Member]

Derivative [Line Items]

Schedule Of Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) In Statement Of Financial Performance

	Gain/(Loss) Recognized in OCI On Derivatives						Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income Classification		Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from OCI to Earnings
	Three Months Ended								Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011					December 31, 2011		January 1, 2011
Net Investment Hedge – Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Foreign exchange contracts	$	(1	)	$	(1	)		Other Income/Expense	$	0	$	0

Nondesignated [Member]

Derivative [Line Items]

Schedule Of Notional Amount Of Derivatives

	Metric		December 31, 2011		October 1, 2011
Commodity:
Corn		Bushels		13 million		17 million
Soy Meal		Tons		85,800		174,600
Soy Oil		Pounds		0		13 million
Live Cattle		Pounds		46 million		72 million
Lean Hogs		Pounds		138 million		19 million
Foreign Currency		United States dollars	$	132 million	$	110 million
Interest Rate		Average monthly notional debt	$	36 million	$	39 million

Schedule Of Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) In Statement Of Financial Performance

	Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income Classification		Gain/(Loss) Recognized in Earnings
			Three Months Ended
			December  31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts		Sales	$	(3	)	$	14
Commodity contracts		Cost of Sales		29			21
Foreign exchange contracts		Other Income/Expense		3			(1	)
Total			$	29		$	34

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Derivative Financial Instruments (Fair Value Of All Derivative Instruments) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Assets	$ 42	$ 41
Derivative Liabilities	64	165
Nondesignated [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Assets	15	26
Derivative Liabilities	56	124
Nondesignated [Member] | Commodity Contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Assets	14	21
Derivative Liabilities	54	121
Nondesignated [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Assets	1	5
Derivative Liabilities	1	1
Nondesignated [Member] | Interest Rate Contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Liabilities	1	2
Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Assets	27	15
Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member] | Commodity Contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Assets	26	3
Derivative Liabilities	8	41
Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Assets	$ 1	$ 12

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Derivative Financial Instruments (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011
Derivative [Line Items]
Maximum length of time hedged forecasted transactions, months	18
Notional amount of foreign currency derivatives	$ 35	$ 35
Maximum length of time hedged undesignated positions, months	18
Grain [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Cash flow hedge gain loss related to grain to be reclassified within twelve months	$ (13)

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Consolidated Condensed Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 156	$ 294
Depreciation and amortization	122	128
Deferred income taxes	24	39
Other, net	27	20
Net changes in working capital	9	(110)
Cash Provided by Operating Activities	338	371
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(182)	(158)
Purchases of marketable securities	(8)	(92)
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities	11	13
Other, net	3	23
Cash Used for Investing Activities	(176)	(214)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Payments on debt	(25)	(45)
Net proceeds from borrowings	45	44
Purchases of Tyson Class A common stock	(50)	(7)
Dividends	(15)	(15)
Other, net	22	10
Cash Used for Financing Activities	(23)	(13)
Effect of Exchange Rate Change on Cash	2	0
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	141	144
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	716	978
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$ 857	$ 1,122

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Debt

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Debt [Abstract]

Debt

NOTE 5: DEBT

The major components of debt are as follows (in millions):

	December 31, 2011			October 1, 2011
Revolving credit facility	$	0		$	0
Senior notes:
3.25% Convertible senior notes due October 2013 (2013 Notes)		458			458
10.50% Senior notes due March 2014 (2014 Notes)		810			810
6.85% Senior notes due April 2016 (2016 Notes)		638			638
7.00% Notes due May 2018		120			120
7.00% Notes due January 2028		18			18
Discount on senior notes		(68	)		(76	)
GO Zone tax-exempt bonds due October 2033 (0.07% at 12/31/2011)		100			100
Other		139			114
Total debt		2,215			2,182
Less current debt		84			70
Total long-term debt	$	2,131		$	2,112

Revolving Credit Facility

We have a $1.0 billion revolving credit facility that supports short-term funding needs and letters of credit. This facility is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by substantially all of our domestic subsidiaries. The facility will mature and the commitments thereunder will terminate in February 2016, provided that (a) at any time during the six-month period ending November 29, 2013, we have corporate credit ratings not lower than BBB- and Baa3 from Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (S&P), and Moody's Investors Service, Inc. (Moody's), respectively, in each case with stable outlook or better, (b) on or prior to November 29, 2013, we have refinanced, purchased, or defeased the 2014 Notes, or (c) we have irrevocably deposited cash in an amount not less than the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding 2014 Notes on or prior to November 29, 2013, in a blocked cash collateral account. In the event none of the foregoing events have occurred, the loans made under this facility will mature and the commitments thereunder will terminate on November 29, 2013. As of December 31, 2011, none of the foregoing events have occurred.

After reducing the amount available by outstanding letters of credit issued under this facility, the amount available for borrowing under this facility at December 31, 2011, was $855 million. At December 31, 2011, we had outstanding letters of credit issued under this facility totaling $145 million, none of which were drawn upon. Our letters of credit are issued primarily in support of workers' compensation insurance programs, derivative activities and Dynamic Fuels' Gulf Opportunity Zone tax-exempt bonds. We had an additional $50 million of bilateral letters of credit not issued under this facility, none of which were drawn upon.

2013 Notes

In September 2008, we issued $458 million principal amount 3.25% convertible senior unsecured notes due October 15, 2013, with interest payable semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15. The conversion rate initially is 59.1935 shares of Class A stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of $16.89 per share of Class A stock. The 2013 Notes may be converted before the close of business on July 12, 2013, only under the following circumstances:

• during any fiscal quarter after December 27, 2008, if the last reported sale price of our Class A stock for at least 20 trading days during a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the preceding fiscal quarter is at least 130% of the applicable conversion price on each applicable trading day (which would currently require our shares to trade at or above $21.96); or

• during the five business days after any 10 consecutive trading days (measurement period) in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes for each trading day of the measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of our Class A stock and the applicable conversion rate on each such day; or

• upon the occurrence of specified corporate events as defined in the supplemental indenture.

On and after July 15, 2013, until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, holders may convert their notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing circumstances. Upon conversion, we will deliver cash up to the aggregate principal amount of the 2013 Notes to be converted and shares of our Class A stock in respect of the remainder, if any, of our conversion obligation in excess of the aggregate principal amount of the 2013 Notes being converted. As of December 31, 2011, none of the conditions permitting conversion of the 2013 Notes had been satisfied.

The 2013 Notes were originally accounted for as a combined instrument because the conversion feature did not meet the requirements to be accounted for separately as a derivative financial instrument. However, we adopted new accounting guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2010 and applied it retrospectively to all periods presented. This new accounting guidance required us to separately account for the liability and equity conversion features. Upon retrospective adoption, our effective interest rate on the 2013 Notes was determined to be 8.26%, which resulted in the recognition of a $92 million discount to these notes with the offsetting after tax amount of $56 million recorded to capital in excess of par value. This discount is being accreted over the five-year term of the convertible notes at the effective interest rate.

In connection with the issuance of the 2013 Notes, we entered into separate convertible note hedge transactions with respect to our Class A stock to minimize the potential economic dilution upon conversion of the 2013 Notes. We also entered into separate warrant transactions. We recorded the purchase of the note hedge transactions as a reduction to capital in excess of par value, net of $36 million pertaining to the related deferred tax asset, and we recorded the proceeds of the warrant transactions as an increase to capital in excess of par value. Subsequent changes in fair value of these instruments are not recognized in the financial statements as long as the instruments continue to meet the criteria for equity classification.

We purchased call options in private transactions for $94 million that permit us to acquire up to approximately 27 million shares of our Class A stock at an initial strike price of $16.89 per share, subject to adjustment. The call options allow us to acquire a number of shares of our Class A stock initially equal to the number of shares of Class A stock issuable to the holders of the 2013 Notes upon conversion. These call options will terminate upon the maturity of the 2013 Notes.

We sold warrants in private transactions for total proceeds of $44 million. The warrants permit the purchasers to acquire up to approximately 27 million shares of our Class A stock at an initial exercise price of $22.31 per share, subject to adjustment. The warrants are exercisable on various dates from January 2014 through March 2014.

The maximum amount of shares that may be issued to satisfy the conversion of the 2013 Notes is limited to 35.9 million shares. However, the convertible note hedge and warrant transactions, in effect, increase the initial conversion price of the 2013 Notes from $16.89 per share to $22.31 per share, thus reducing the potential future economic dilution associated with conversion of the 2013 Notes. If our share price is below $22.31 upon conversion of the 2013 Notes, there is no economic net share impact. Upon conversion, a 10% increase in our share price above the $22.31 conversion price would result in the issuance of 2.5 million incremental shares. The 2013 Notes and the warrants could have a dilutive effect on our earnings per share to the extent the price of our Class A stock during a given measurement period exceeds the respective exercise prices of those instruments. The call options are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share as their impact is anti-dilutive.

2016 Notes

The 2016 Notes carried an interest rate at issuance of 6.60%, with an interest step up feature dependent on their credit rating. On February 24, 2011, S&P upgraded the credit rating of these notes from "BB+" to "BBB-." On March 29, 2011, Moody's upgraded the credit rating of these notes from "Ba2" to "Ba1". These upgrades decreased the interest rate on the 2016 Notes from 7.35% to 6.85%, effective beginning with the six-month interest payment due April 1, 2011.

GO Zone Tax-Exempt Bonds

In October 2008, Dynamic Fuels received $100 million in proceeds from the sale of Gulf Opportunity Zone tax-exempt bonds made available by the federal government to the regions affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. These floating rate bonds are due October 1, 2033. In November 2008, we entered into an interest rate swap related to these bonds to mitigate our interest rate risk on a portion of the bonds for five years. We also issued a letter of credit as a guarantee for the entire bond issuance.

Debt Covenants

Our revolving credit facility contains affirmative and negative covenants that, among other things, may limit or restrict our ability to: create liens and encumbrances; incur debt; merge, dissolve, liquidate or consolidate; make acquisitions and investments; dispose of or transfer assets; pay dividends or make other payments in respect of our capital stock; amend material documents; change the nature of our business; make certain payments of debt; engage in certain transactions with affiliates; and enter into sale/leaseback or hedging transactions, in each case, subject to certain qualifications and exceptions. In addition, we are required to maintain minimum interest expense coverage and maximum leverage ratios.

Our 2014 Notes also contain affirmative and negative covenants that, among other things, may limit or restrict our ability to: incur additional debt and issue preferred stock; make certain investments and restricted payments; create liens; create restrictions on distributions from subsidiaries; engage in specified sales of assets and subsidiary stock; enter into transactions with affiliates; enter new lines of business; engage in consolidation, mergers and acquisitions; and engage in certain sale/leaseback transactions.

We were in compliance with all debt covenants at December 31, 2011.

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Segment Reporting (Segment Reporting Information, By Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Jan. 01, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	$ 8,329		$ 7,615
Operating Income (Loss)	278		498
Total Other (Income) Expense	35	[1]	53	[1]
Income before Income Taxes	243		445
Gain on disposal of an equity method investment			11
Chicken [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	2,762		2,619
Operating Income (Loss)	32		181
Beef [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	3,467		3,185
Operating Income (Loss)	31		116
Pork [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	1,475		1,238
Operating Income (Loss)	165		177
Prepared Foods [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	861		806
Operating Income (Loss)	51		28
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	54		8
Operating Income (Loss)	(1)		(4)
Intersegment Sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	$ (290)		$ (241)

[1] Includes $11 million gain related to a sale of interests in an equity method investment.

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Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Schedule Of Assets And Liabilities Measured At Fair Value On A Recurring Basis

December 31, 2011	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Netting (a)			Total
Assets:
Commodity Derivatives	$	0	$	40	$	0	$	(30	)	$	10
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts		0		2		0		0			2
Available for Sale Securities:
Debt securities		0		33		84		0			117
Equity securities		8		0		0		0			8
Deferred Compensation Assets		28		130		0		0			158
Total Assets	$	36	$	205	$	84	$	(30	)	$	295
Liabilities:
Commodity Derivatives	$	0	$	62	$	0	$	(61	)	$	1
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts		0		1		0		(1	)		0
Interest Rate Swap		0		1		0		0			1
Total Liabilities	$	0	$	64	$	0	$	(62	)	$	2

October 1, 2011	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Netting (a)			Total
Assets:
Commodity Derivatives	$	0	$	24	$	0	$	(21	)	$	3
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts		0		17		0		(2	)		15
Available for Sale Securities:
Debt securities		0		34		83		0			117
Equity securities		7		0		0		0			7
Deferred Compensation Assets		28		122		0		0			150
Total Assets	$	35	$	197	$	83	$	(23	)	$	292
Liabilities:
Commodity Derivatives	$	0	$	162	$	0	$	(135	)	$	27
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts		0		1		0		(1	)		0
Interest Rate Swap		0		2		0		0			2
Total Liabilities	$	0	$	165	$	0	$	(136	)	$	29

(a) Our derivative assets and liabilities are presented in our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets on a net basis. We net derivative assets and liabilities, including cash collateral, when a legally enforceable master netting arrangement exists between the counterparty to a derivative contract and us. At December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, we had posted with various counterparties $32 million and $113 million, respectively, of cash collateral and held no cash collateral.

Schedule Of Debt Securities Measured At Fair Value On A Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation

	Three months ended
	December 31, 2011			January 1, 2011
Balance at beginning of year	$	83		$	73
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in earnings		1			0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss)		(2	)		0
Purchases		6			2
Issuances		0			0
Settlements		(4	)		(4	)
Balance at end of period	$	84		$	71
Total gains (losses) for the three-month period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets and liabilities still held at end of period	$	0		$	0

Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities

(in millions)	December 31, 2011							October 1, 2011
	Amortized Cost Basis		Fair Value		Unrealized Gain/(Loss)			Amortized Cost Basis		Fair Value		Unrealized Gain/(Loss)
Available for Sale Securities:
Debt Securities:
U.S. Treasury and Agency	$	32	$	33	$	1		$	33	$	34	$	1
Corporate and Asset-Backed (a)		56		56		0			54		56		2
Redeemable Preferred Stock		28		28		0			27		27		0
Equity Securities:
Common Stock		9		8		(1	)		9		7		(2	)

(a) At December 31, 2011, and October 1, 2011, the amortized cost basis for Corporate and Asset-Backed debt securities had been reduced by accumulated other than temporary impairments of $2 million and $3 million, respectively.

Schedule Of Fair Value And Carrying Value Of Debt

	December 31, 2011				October 1, 2011
	Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value
Total Debt	$	2,371	$	2,215	$	2,334	$	2,182

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Other Income And Charges (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011
Other Income And Charges [Abstract]
Gain on disposal of an equity method investment		$ 11
Equity Earnings In Joint Ventures	6
Foreign currency exchange gains, net	$ 5

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Accounting Policies (Policy)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis Of Presentation

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared by Tyson Foods, Inc. ("Tyson," "the Company," "we," "us" or "our"). Certain information and accounting policies and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Although we believe the disclosures contained herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, these consolidated condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2011. Preparation of consolidated condensed financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated condensed financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

We believe the accompanying consolidated condensed financial statements contain all adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature, necessary to state fairly our financial position as of December 31, 2011, and the results of operations and cash flows for the three months ended December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011. Results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year.

Consolidation

CONSOLIDATION

The consolidated condensed financial statements include the accounts of all wholly-owned subsidiaries, as well as majority-owned subsidiaries over which we exercise control and, when applicable, entities for which we have a controlling financial interest or are the primary beneficiary. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

We have an investment in a joint venture, Dynamic Fuels LLC (Dynamic Fuels), in which we have a 50 percent ownership interest. Dynamic Fuels qualifies as a variable interest entity for which we consolidate as we are the primary beneficiary. At December 31, 2011, Dynamic Fuels had $177 million of total assets, of which $142 million was property, plant and equipment, and $126 million of total liabilities, of which $100 million was long-term debt. At October 1, 2011, Dynamic Fuels had $170 million of total assets, of which $144 million was property, plant and equipment, and $116 million of total liabilities, of which $100 million was long-term debt.

Share Repurchases

SHARE REPURCHASES

On May 11, 2011, we announced our Board of Directors reactivated a share repurchase program, which had no activity since fiscal 2005, to repurchase up to the remaining available 22.5 million shares of Class A common stock under the program. The share repurchase program has no fixed or scheduled termination date. During the three months ended December 31, 2011, we repurchased 1.8 million shares for approximately $35 million under this plan. As of December 31, 2011, 11 million shares remain authorized for repurchase. The timing and extent to which we repurchase shares will depend upon, among other things, market conditions, liquidity targets, limitations under our debt obligations and regulatory requirements. In addition to the share repurchase program, we purchase shares on the open market to fund certain obligations under our equity compensation plans. These repurchases totaled $15 million and $7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011, respectively.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In May 2011, the FASB clarified the guidance around fair value measurements and disclosures. This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. We will adopt this guidance in the second quarter of fiscal year 2012. We do not expect the adoption will have a significant impact on our consolidated condensed financial statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued guidance regarding the presentation of comprehensive income. This guidance is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. We anticipate we will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal year 2013. Upon adoption, we will be required to present comprehensive income as part of our consolidated condensed statements of income, or in a separate financial statement. Currently, we present such information in our notes to the consolidated condensed financial statements. Other than changing the presentation of comprehensive income, we do not expect the adoption will have a significant impact on our consolidated condensed financial statements.

In September 2011, the FASB issued guidance amending the way companies test for goodwill impairment. This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. We do not expect the adoption will have a significant impact on our consolidated condensed financial statements.

In December 2011, the FASB issued guidance enhancing disclosures related to offsetting of certain assets and liabilities. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. We do not expect the adoption will have a significant impact on our consolidated condensed financial statements.