Reconciliation of Gross Sales to Net Sales (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012		Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011		Jul. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2012		Oct. 31, 2011		Oct. 31, 2010
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Gross sales											$ 2,445,200,000		$ 2,028,600,000		$ 1,975,100,000
Commissions											13,900,000		12,700,000		9,400,000
Sales Allowances, Customer Allowances and Customer Allowances For Advertising											27,100,000		23,400,000		24,900,000
Other	18,100,000	[1]				14,400,000	[1]				18,100,000	[1]	14,400,000	[1]	15,300,000	[1]
Net Sales	648,379,000		624,854,000	595,046,000	517,826,000	559,842,000		511,169,000	479,342,000	427,732,000	2,386,105,000		1,978,085,000		1,925,445,000
Fresh Ice Packed Chicken
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Gross sales											308,400,000		263,900,000		308,000,000
Commissions											4,300,000		3,900,000		3,200,000
Sales Allowances, Customer Allowances and Customer Allowances For Advertising											9,800,000		8,500,000		9,700,000
Other	6,900,000	[1]				5,300,000	[1]				6,900,000	[1]	5,300,000	[1]	5,800,000	[1]
Net Sales											287,400,000		246,200,000		289,300,000
Chill Pack Chicken
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Gross sales											821,300,000		670,100,000		576,200,000
Commissions											6,800,000		6,000,000		4,300,000
Sales Allowances, Customer Allowances and Customer Allowances For Advertising											10,200,000		8,500,000		10,400,000
Other	5,200,000	[1]				3,200,000	[1]				5,200,000	[1]	3,200,000	[1]	2,400,000	[1]
Net Sales											799,100,000		652,400,000		559,100,000
Frozen Chicken
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Gross sales											314,100,000		272,000,000		218,100,000
Commissions											100,000		0		0
Sales Allowances, Customer Allowances and Customer Allowances For Advertising											300,000		0		0
Other	800,000	[1]				1,800,000	[1]				800,000	[1]	1,800,000	[1]	3,200,000	[1]
Net Sales											312,900,000		270,200,000		214,900,000
Fresh Vacuum Sealed Chicken
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Gross sales											875,700,000		690,800,000		730,000,000
Commissions											1,900,000		1,800,000		1,200,000
Sales Allowances, Customer Allowances and Customer Allowances For Advertising											6,400,000		6,000,000		4,600,000
Other	5,100,000	[1]				4,000,000	[1]				5,100,000	[1]	4,000,000	[1]	3,800,000	[1]
Net Sales											862,300,000		679,000,000		720,400,000
Prepared Partially Cooked Chicken
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Gross sales											90,400,000		107,900,000		122,500,000
Commissions											800,000		1,000,000		700,000
Sales Allowances, Customer Allowances and Customer Allowances For Advertising											400,000		400,000		200,000
Other	100,000	[1]				100,000	[1]				100,000	[1]	100,000	[1]	100,000	[1]
Net Sales											89,100,000		106,400,000		121,500,000
Fresh Ice Packed Chicken - Mechanically Deboned
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Gross sales											35,300,000		23,900,000		20,300,000
Commissions											0		0		0
Sales Allowances, Customer Allowances and Customer Allowances For Advertising											0		0		0
Other	0	[1]				0	[1]				0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Net Sales											$ 35,300,000		$ 23,900,000		$ 20,300,000

[1] Other deductions include short weights, credit memos, rebates and other items, none of which, individually, is material.