Reconciliation of Gross Sales to Net Sales (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013		Oct. 31, 2012		Oct. 31, 2011
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Gross Sales									$ 2,750,400,000		$ 2,445,200,000		$ 2,028,600,000
Commissions									(13,400,000)		(13,900,000)		(12,700,000)
Sales and Customer Allowances									(29,400,000)		(27,100,000)		(23,400,000)
Other									(24,600,000)	[1]	(18,100,000)	[1]	(14,400,000)	[1]
Net Sales	727,061,000	738,964,000	621,195,000	595,760,000	648,379,000	624,854,000	595,046,000	517,826,000	2,682,980,000		2,386,105,000		1,978,085,000
Fresh Ice Packed Chicken
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Gross Sales									367,400,000		308,400,000		263,900,000
Commissions									(4,100,000)		(4,300,000)		(3,900,000)
Sales and Customer Allowances									(11,200,000)		(9,800,000)		(8,500,000)
Other									(9,800,000)	[1]	(6,900,000)	[1]	(5,300,000)	[1]
Net Sales									342,300,000		287,400,000		246,200,000
Chill Pack Chicken
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Gross Sales									955,000,000		821,300,000		670,100,000
Commissions									(6,500,000)		(6,800,000)		(6,000,000)
Sales and Customer Allowances									(9,500,000)		(10,200,000)		(8,500,000)
Other									(6,300,000)	[1]	(5,200,000)	[1]	(3,200,000)	[1]
Net Sales									932,700,000		799,100,000		652,400,000
Frozen Chicken
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Gross Sales									282,000,000		314,100,000		272,000,000
Commissions									(200,000)		(100,000)		0
Sales and Customer Allowances									0		(300,000)		0
Other									(800,000)	[1]	(800,000)	[1]	(1,800,000)	[1]
Net Sales									281,000,000		312,900,000		270,200,000
Fresh Vacuum Sealed Chicken
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Gross Sales									1,009,600,000		875,700,000		690,800,000
Commissions									(1,800,000)		(1,900,000)		(1,800,000)
Sales and Customer Allowances									(8,300,000)		(6,400,000)		(6,000,000)
Other									(7,500,000)	[1]	(5,100,000)	[1]	(4,000,000)	[1]
Net Sales									992,000,000		862,300,000		679,000,000
Prepared Partially Cooked Chicken
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Gross Sales									98,300,000		90,400,000		107,900,000
Commissions									(800,000)		(800,000)		(1,000,000)
Sales and Customer Allowances									(400,000)		(400,000)		(400,000)
Other									(200,000)	[1]	(100,000)	[1]	(100,000)	[1]
Net Sales									96,900,000		89,100,000		106,400,000
Fresh Ice Packed Chicken - Mechanically Deboned
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Gross Sales									38,100,000		35,300,000		23,900,000
Commissions									0		0		0
Sales and Customer Allowances									0		0		0
Other									0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Net Sales									$ 38,100,000		$ 35,300,000		$ 23,900,000

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