REPORTABLE SEGMENT (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Jan. 29, 2012	Jan. 30, 2011		Jan. 29, 2012	Jan. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	$ 4,114.9	$ 3,703.4		$ 11,788.2	$ 10,657.4
Intersegment sales	(636.6)	(517.2)		(1,903.1)	(1,571.1)
Sales	3,478.3	3,186.2		9,885.1	9,086.3
Operating profit	170.5	372.7		568.4	828.4
Pork Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	2,992.7	2,684.7		8,364.8	7,576.3
Intersegment sales	(10.5)	(7.9)		(26.2)	(21.7)
Operating profit	195.9	254.8		503.8	557.0
Hog Production Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	761.8	649.9		2,296.9	2,004.8
Intersegment sales	(614.8)	(500.1)		(1,851.1)	(1,520.7)
Operating profit	(6.6)	(2.3)		127.0	139.8
International Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	360.4	355.9		1,126.5	1,001.6
Intersegment sales	(11.3)	(9.2)		(25.8)	(28.7)
Operating profit	6.2	34.5		23.5	103.1
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit	(25.0)	86.2	[1]	(85.9)	30.8	[1]
Other Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	0	12.9		0	74.7
Operating profit	$ 0	$ (0.5)		$ 0	$ (2.3)

[1] Fiscal 2011 included a $120.6 million involuntary conversion gain related the fire that occurred at our Cudahy, Wisconsin facility in fiscal 2010.