QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) Narrative (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended						12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended											12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 29, 2012	Oct. 30, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011	May 01, 2011	Jan. 30, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Apr. 29, 2012	May 01, 2011	May 02, 2010	Jan. 29, 2012 Missouri Hog Farms [Member]	Oct. 30, 2011 Missouri Hog Farms [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Missouri Hog Farms [Member]	Apr. 29, 2012 Portsmouth, Virginia Plant [Member]	Jan. 29, 2012 Portsmouth, Virginia Plant [Member]	Oct. 30, 2011 Portsmouth, Virginia Plant [Member]	Apr. 29, 2012 Hog Production Cost Savings Initiative [Member]	Jan. 29, 2012 Hog Production Cost Savings Initiative [Member]	Oct. 30, 2011 Hog Production Cost Savings Initiative [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Hog Production Cost Savings Initiative [Member]	Jan. 29, 2012 Campofrio Food Group [Member]	Apr. 29, 2012 Campofrio Food Group [Member]	May 01, 2011 Hog Production Segment [Member]	Jan. 30, 2011 Hog Production Segment [Member]	Apr. 29, 2012 Missouri Litigation [Member] Nuisance Litigation [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Missouri Litigation [Member] Nuisance Litigation [Member]	Jan. 30, 2011 Missouri Litigation [Member] Nuisance Litigation [Member]	Apr. 29, 2012 Missouri Litigation [Member] Nuisance Litigation [Member]	May 01, 2011 Missouri Litigation [Member] Nuisance Litigation [Member]	Jan. 30, 2011 Patrick Cudahy, Inc. Fire Insurance Settlement [Member]	May 01, 2011 Patrick Cudahy, Inc. Fire Insurance Settlement [Member]
Loss on debt extinguishment	$ 4.6	$ 6.4	$ 1.2	$ 71.1	$ 14.1	$ 7.3	$ 12.2	$ 92.5	$ 11.0
Gain on fire insurance recovery							0	120.6	0																				120.6	120.6
Gain (Loss) Related to Litigation Settlement																										19.1		19.1
Loss Contingency, Loss in Period																								(16.8)	39.0		22.2
Accelerated Depreciation										0.7	3.2	4.3
Restructuring Charges													1.2	1.7	1.8	1.3	10.9	15.3	0.5
Professional Fees, Terminated Potential Acquisition		0.7	5.7
Entity Portion of Equity Method Investment Restructuring Charges																				38.7	38.7
(Gain) loss on sale of property, plant and equipment							$ (25.2)	$ (53.0)	$ 22.7													$ (13.6)	$ (5.1)