REPORTING SEGMENTS Segment Revenues by Product (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 29, 2012	May 01, 2011	May 02, 2010
International Segment [Member]
Revenue, Product Category, Percentage	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Hog Production Segment [Member]
Revenue, Product Category, Percentage	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Pork Segment [Member]
Revenue, Product Category, Percentage	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Packaged Meats [Member] | International Segment [Member]
Revenue, Product Category, Percentage	47.00%	47.00%	48.00%
Packaged Meats [Member] | Pork Segment [Member]
Revenue, Product Category, Percentage	54.00%	56.00%	55.00%
Fresh Pork [Member] | Pork Segment [Member]
Revenue, Product Category, Percentage	46.00%	44.00%	45.00%
Internal Hog Sales [Member] | Hog Production Segment [Member]
Revenue, Product Category, Percentage	80.00%	78.00%	77.00%
External Hog Sales [Member] | Hog Production Segment [Member]
Revenue, Product Category, Percentage	12.00%	15.00%	15.00%
Fresh Meats [Member] | International Segment [Member]
Revenue, Product Category, Percentage	43.00%	42.00%	41.00%
Other Products [Member] | International Segment [Member]
Revenue, Product Category, Percentage	10.00%	11.00%	11.00%
Other Products [Member] | Hog Production Segment [Member]
Revenue, Product Category, Percentage	8.00%	7.00%	8.00%