IMPAIRMENT AND DISPOSAL OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS	12 Months Ended
Apr. 29, 2012
Impairment or Disposal of Long Lived Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Impairment and Disposal of Long Lived Assets Disclosure	IMPAIRMENT AND DISPOSAL OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS Portsmouth, Virginia Plant In November 2011 (fiscal 2012), we announced that we would shift the production of hot dogs and lunchmeat from The Smithfield Packing Company, Inc.'s (Smithfield Packing) Portsmouth, Virginia plant to our Kinston, North Carolina plant and permanently close the Portsmouth facility. The Kinston facility will be expanded to handle the additional production and will incorporate state of the art technology and equipment, which is expected to produce significant production efficiencies and cost reductions. The Kinston expansion will require an estimated $85 million in capital expenditures. The expansion of the Kinston facility and the closure of the Portsmouth facility are expected to be completed by the end of fiscal 2013. As a result of this decision, we performed an impairment analysis of the related assets at the Portsmouth facility in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 and determined that the net cash flows expected to be generated over the anticipated remaining useful life of the plant are sufficient to recover its book value. As such, no impairment exists. However, we have revised depreciation estimates to reflect the use of the related assets at the Portsmouth facility over their shortened useful lives. As a result, we recognized accelerated depreciation charges of $3.3 million in cost of sales during fiscal 2012. We expect to recognize accelerated depreciation charges totaling $4.7 million during fiscal 2013. Also, in connection with this decision, we wrote-down inventory by $0.8 million in cost of sales and accrued $0.6 million for employee severance in selling, general and administrative expenses in the second quarter of fiscal 2012. All of these charges are reflected in the Pork segment. Hog Farms Texas In the first quarter of fiscal 2010, we ceased hog production operations and closed the farms related to our Dalhart, Texas operation. In connection with this event, we recorded an impairment charge of $23.6 million to write-down the assets to their estimated fair value of $20.9 million. The estimate of fair value was based on our assessment of the facts and circumstances at the time of the write-down, which indicated that the highest and best use of the assets by a market participant was for crop farming. The estimated fair value was determined using the initial valuation of the property in connection with our acquisition of the farms, relevant market data based on recent transactions for similar real property and third party estimates. In January 2011 (fiscal 2011), we sold land included in our Dalhart, Texas operation to a crop farmer for net proceeds of $9.1 million and recognized a loss on the sale of $1.8 million in selling, general and administrative expenses in our Hog Production segment in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Also, in January 2011 (fiscal 2011), we received a non-binding letter of intent from a prospective buyer for the purchase of our remaining Dalhart, Texas assets. The prospective buyer had indicated that it intended to utilize the farms for hog production after reconfiguring the assets to meet their specific business purposes. In April 2011 (fiscal 2011), we completed the sale of the remaining Dalhart, Texas assets and received net proceeds of $32.5 million. As a result of the sale, we recognized a gain of $13.6 million in selling, general and administrative expenses in our Hog Production segment in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, after allocating $8.5 million in goodwill to the asset group. Goodwill was allocated to this business based on its fair value relative to the estimated fair value of our domestic hog production reporting unit. The operating results and cash flows from these asset groups were not considered material for separate disclosure. Oklahoma and Iowa In January 2011 (fiscal 2011), we completed the sale of certain hog production assets located in Oklahoma and Iowa. As a result of these sales, we received total net proceeds of $70.4 million and recognized gains totaling $6.9 million, after allocating $17.0 million of goodwill to these asset groups. Goodwill was allocated to this business based on its fair value relative to the estimated fair value of our domestic hog production reporting unit. The gains were recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses in our Hog Production segment in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. The operating results and cash flows from these asset groups were not considered material for separate disclosure. Missouri In the first quarter of fiscal 2010, we entered into negotiations to sell certain hog farms located in Missouri, which we believed would result in a completed sale within the subsequent twelve month period. We recorded total impairment charges of $10.5 million, including a $6.0 million allocation of goodwill, in the first quarter of fiscal 2010 to write-down the hog farm assets to their estimated fair value. The impairment charges were recorded in cost of sales in the Hog Production segment. We determined the fair value of the assets by probability-weighting an estimated range of sales proceeds based on price negotiations between us and the prospective buyer, which included consideration of recent market multiples. We allocated goodwill to the asset disposal group based on its estimated fair value relative to the estimated fair value of our domestic hog production reporting unit. In the third quarter of fiscal 2010, negotiations for the sale of these properties stalled indefinitely as we were unwilling to meet certain demands of the prospective buyer. These properties are classified as held and used in the consolidated balance sheets as of April 29, 2012 and May 1, 2011, as it is not probable that a sale of these properties will occur and be completed within one year. In the first half of fiscal 2011, we began reducing the hog population on certain other hogs farms in Missouri in order to comply with an amended consent decree. The amended consent decree allows us to return the farms to full capacity upon the installation of an approved "next generation" technology that would reduce the level of odor produced by the farms. The reduced hog raising capacity at these farms was replaced with third party contract farmers in Iowa. In the first quarter of fiscal 2011, in connection with the anticipated reduction in finishing capacity, we performed an impairment analysis of these hog farms and determined that the book value of the assets was recoverable and thus, no impairment existed. Based on the favorable hog raising performance experienced with these third party contract farmers and the amount of capital required to install "next generation" technology at our Missouri farms, we made the decision in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 to permanently idle certain of the assets on these farms. Depreciation estimates were revised to reflect the shortened useful lives of the assets. As a result, we recognized accelerated depreciation charges of $8.2 million in fiscal 2012. These charges are reflected in the Hog Production segment. Butterball, LLC (Butterball) In June 2010 (fiscal 2011), we announced that we had made an offer to purchase our joint venture partner’s 51% ownership interest in Butterball and our partner’s related turkey production assets. In accordance with Butterball’s operating agreement, our partner had to either accept the offer to sell or be required to purchase our 49% interest and our related turkey production assets, which we refer to below as our turkey operations. In September 2010 (fiscal 2011), we were notified of our joint venture partner’s decision to purchase our 49% interest in Butterball and our related turkey production assets. In December 2010 (fiscal 2011), we completed the sale of these assets for $167.0 million and recognized a gain of $0.2 million. The gain was calculated as the cash selling price, net of costs to sell, less the carrying amount of the asset disposal group. The operating results and cash flows from our turkey operations were not considered material for separate disclosure. Sioux City, Iowa Plant In January 2010 (fiscal 2010), we announced that we would close our fresh pork processing plant located in Sioux City, Iowa. The Sioux City plant was one of our oldest and least efficient plants. The plant design severely limited our ability to produce value-added packaged meats products and maximize production throughput. A portion of the plant’s production was transferred to other nearby Smithfield plants. We closed the Sioux City plant in April 2010 (fiscal 2010). As a result of the planned closure, we recorded charges of $13.1 million in fiscal 2010. These charges consisted of $3.6 million for the write-down of long-lived assets, $2.5 million of unusable inventories and $7.0 million for estimated severance benefits pursuant to contractual and ongoing benefit arrangements. Substantially all of these charges were recorded in cost of sales in the Pork segment. RMH Foods, LLC (RMH) In October 2009 (fiscal 2010), we entered into an agreement to sell substantially all of the assets of RMH, a subsidiary within the Pork segment. As a result of this sale, we recorded pre-tax charges totaling $3.5 million, including $0.5 million of goodwill impairment, in cost of sales in the Pork segment in fiscal 2010 to write-down the assets of RMH to their fair values. In December 2009 (fiscal 2010), we completed the sale of RMH for $9.1 million, plus $1.4 million of liabilities assumed by the buyer.

IMPAIRMENT AND DISPOSAL OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS

Portsmouth, Virginia Plant

In November 2011 (fiscal 2012), we announced that we would shift the production of hot dogs and lunchmeat from The Smithfield Packing Company, Inc.'s (Smithfield Packing) Portsmouth, Virginia plant to our Kinston, North Carolina plant and permanently close the Portsmouth facility. The Kinston facility will be expanded to handle the additional production and will incorporate state of the art technology and equipment, which is expected to produce significant production efficiencies and cost reductions. The Kinston expansion will require an estimated $85 million in capital expenditures. The expansion of the Kinston facility and the closure of the Portsmouth facility are expected to be completed by the end of fiscal 2013.

As a result of this decision, we performed an impairment analysis of the related assets at the Portsmouth facility in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 and determined that the net cash flows expected to be generated over the anticipated remaining useful life of the plant are sufficient to recover its book value. As such, no impairment exists. However, we have revised depreciation estimates to reflect the use of the related assets at the Portsmouth facility over their shortened useful lives. As a result, we recognized accelerated depreciation charges of $3.3 million in cost of sales during fiscal 2012. We expect to recognize accelerated depreciation charges totaling $4.7 million during fiscal 2013. Also, in connection with this decision, we wrote-down inventory by $0.8 million in cost of sales and accrued $0.6 million for employee severance in selling, general and administrative expenses in the second quarter of fiscal 2012. All of these charges are reflected in the Pork segment.

Hog Farms

Texas

In the first quarter of fiscal 2010, we ceased hog production operations and closed the farms related to our Dalhart, Texas operation. In connection with this event, we recorded an impairment charge of $23.6 million to write-down the assets to their estimated fair value of $20.9 million. The estimate of fair value was based on our assessment of the facts and circumstances at the time of the write-down, which indicated that the highest and best use of the assets by a market participant was for crop farming. The estimated fair value was determined using the initial valuation of the property in connection with our acquisition of the farms, relevant market data based on recent transactions for similar real property and third party estimates.

In January 2011 (fiscal 2011), we sold land included in our Dalhart, Texas operation to a crop farmer for net proceeds of $9.1 million and recognized a loss on the sale of $1.8 million in selling, general and administrative expenses in our Hog Production segment in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Also, in January 2011 (fiscal 2011), we received a non-binding letter of intent from a prospective buyer for the purchase of our remaining Dalhart, Texas assets. The prospective buyer had indicated that it intended to utilize the farms for hog production after reconfiguring the assets to meet their specific business purposes. In April 2011 (fiscal 2011), we completed the sale of the remaining Dalhart, Texas assets and received net proceeds of $32.5 million. As a result of the sale, we recognized a gain of $13.6 million in selling, general and administrative expenses in our Hog Production segment in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, after allocating $8.5 million in goodwill to the asset group. Goodwill was allocated to this business based on its fair value relative to the estimated fair value of our domestic hog production reporting unit. The operating results and cash flows from these asset groups were not considered material for separate disclosure.

Oklahoma and Iowa

In January 2011 (fiscal 2011), we completed the sale of certain hog production assets located in Oklahoma and Iowa. As a result of these sales, we received total net proceeds of $70.4 million and recognized gains totaling $6.9 million, after allocating $17.0 million of goodwill to these asset groups. Goodwill was allocated to this business based on its fair value relative to the estimated fair value of our domestic hog production reporting unit. The gains were recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses in our Hog Production segment in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. The operating results and cash flows from these asset groups were not considered material for separate disclosure.

Missouri

In the first quarter of fiscal 2010, we entered into negotiations to sell certain hog farms located in Missouri, which we believed would result in a completed sale within the subsequent twelve month period. We recorded total impairment charges of $10.5 million, including a $6.0 million allocation of goodwill, in the first quarter of fiscal 2010 to write-down the hog farm assets to their estimated fair value. The impairment charges were recorded in cost of sales in the Hog Production segment. We determined the fair value of the assets by probability-weighting an estimated range of sales proceeds based on price negotiations between us and the prospective buyer, which included consideration of recent market multiples. We allocated goodwill to the asset disposal group based on its estimated fair value relative to the estimated fair value of our domestic hog production reporting unit. In the third quarter of fiscal 2010, negotiations for the sale of these properties stalled indefinitely as we were unwilling to meet certain demands of the prospective buyer. These properties are classified as held and used in the consolidated balance sheets as of April 29, 2012 and May 1, 2011, as it is not probable that a sale of these properties will occur and be completed within one year.

In the first half of fiscal 2011, we began reducing the hog population on certain other hogs farms in Missouri in order to comply with an amended consent decree. The amended consent decree allows us to return the farms to full capacity upon the installation of an approved "next generation" technology that would reduce the level of odor produced by the farms. The reduced hog raising capacity at these farms was replaced with third party contract farmers in Iowa. In the first quarter of fiscal 2011, in connection with the anticipated reduction in finishing capacity, we performed an impairment analysis of these hog farms and determined that the book value of the assets was recoverable and thus, no impairment existed.

Based on the favorable hog raising performance experienced with these third party contract farmers and the amount of capital required to install "next generation" technology at our Missouri farms, we made the decision in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 to permanently idle certain of the assets on these farms. Depreciation estimates were revised to reflect the shortened useful lives of the assets. As a result, we recognized accelerated depreciation charges of $8.2 million in fiscal 2012. These charges are reflected in the Hog Production segment.

Butterball, LLC (Butterball)

In June 2010 (fiscal 2011), we announced that we had made an offer to purchase our joint venture partner’s 51% ownership interest in Butterball and our partner’s related turkey production assets. In accordance with Butterball’s operating agreement, our partner had to either accept the offer to sell or be required to purchase our 49% interest and our related turkey production assets, which we refer to below as our turkey operations.

In September 2010 (fiscal 2011), we were notified of our joint venture partner’s decision to purchase our 49% interest in Butterball and our related turkey production assets. In December 2010 (fiscal 2011), we completed the sale of these assets for $167.0 million and recognized a gain of $0.2 million. The gain was calculated as the cash selling price, net of costs to sell, less the carrying amount of the asset disposal group. The operating results and cash flows from our turkey operations were not considered material for separate disclosure.

Sioux City, Iowa Plant

In January 2010 (fiscal 2010), we announced that we would close our fresh pork processing plant located in Sioux City, Iowa. The Sioux City plant was one of our oldest and least efficient plants. The plant design severely limited our ability to produce value-added packaged meats products and maximize production throughput. A portion of the plant’s production was transferred to other nearby Smithfield plants. We closed the Sioux City plant in April 2010 (fiscal 2010).

As a result of the planned closure, we recorded charges of $13.1 million in fiscal 2010. These charges consisted of $3.6 million for the write-down of long-lived assets, $2.5 million of unusable inventories and $7.0 million for estimated severance benefits pursuant to contractual and ongoing benefit arrangements. Substantially all of these charges were recorded in cost of sales in the Pork segment.

RMH Foods, LLC (RMH)

In October 2009 (fiscal 2010), we entered into an agreement to sell substantially all of the assets of RMH, a subsidiary within the Pork segment. As a result of this sale, we recorded pre-tax charges totaling $3.5 million, including $0.5 million of goodwill impairment, in cost of sales in the Pork segment in fiscal 2010 to write-down the assets of RMH to their fair values. In December 2009 (fiscal 2010), we completed the sale of RMH for $9.1 million, plus $1.4 million of liabilities assumed by the buyer.