DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS Notional Amounts (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 29, 2012 bu
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Corn, in Bushels [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Minimum Notional Volumes, Other Units	26,705,000
Maximum Notional Volumes, Other Units	53,210,000
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Soybean Meal, in Tons [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Minimum Notional Volumes, Mass	223,700
Maximum Notional Volumes, Mass	877,722
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Lean Hogs, in Pounds [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Minimum Notional Volumes, Mass	469,720,000
Maximum Notional Volumes, Mass	960,360,000
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Minimum Notional Volumes, Monetary	0
Maximum Notional Volumes, Monetary	200,000,000
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Minimum Notional Volumes, Monetary	22,959,793	[1]
Maximum Notional Volumes, Monetary	57,558,223	[1]
Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Corn, in Bushels [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Minimum Notional Volumes, Other Units	2,245,000
Maximum Notional Volumes, Other Units	6,505,000
Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Lean Hogs, in Pounds [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Minimum Notional Volumes, Mass	0
Maximum Notional Volumes, Mass	221,680,000
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Corn, in Bushels [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Minimum Notional Volumes, Other Units	8,485,000
Maximum Notional Volumes, Other Units	22,810,000
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Soybean Meal, in Tons [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Minimum Notional Volumes, Mass	0
Maximum Notional Volumes, Mass	240,500
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Lean Hogs, in Pounds [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Minimum Notional Volumes, Mass	400,000
Maximum Notional Volumes, Mass	334,320,000
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Soybeans, in Bushels [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Minimum Notional Volumes, Other Units	210,000
Maximum Notional Volumes, Other Units	775,000
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Wheat, in Bushels [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Minimum Notional Volumes, Other Units	0
Maximum Notional Volumes, Other Units	1,820,000
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Live Cattle, in Pounds [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Minimum Notional Volumes, Mass	0
Maximum Notional Volumes, Mass	120,000
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Natural Gas, in Million BTU [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Minimum Notional Volumes, Other Units	1,750,000
Maximum Notional Volumes, Other Units	9,630,000
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Heating Oil, in Gallons [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Minimum Notional Volumes, Other Units	0
Maximum Notional Volumes, Other Units	1,008,000
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Crude Oil, in Barrels [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Minimum Notional Volumes, Other Units	0
Maximum Notional Volumes, Other Units	53,000
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Minimum Notional Volumes, Monetary	33,124,028	[1]
Maximum Notional Volumes, Monetary	129,867,546	[1]

[1] Amounts represent the U.S. dollar equivalent of various foreign currency contracts.