HOG PRODUCTION COST SAVINGS INITIATIVE Schedule of Hog Production Costs Savings Initiative Charges (Details) (Hog Production Cost Savings Initiative [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended			27 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			27 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			27 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			27 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			27 Months Ended
	Apr. 29, 2012	Jan. 29, 2012	Oct. 30, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011	Apr. 29, 2012 Hog Production Segment [Member] Cost of Sales [Member]	May 01, 2011 Hog Production Segment [Member] Cost of Sales [Member]	May 02, 2010 Hog Production Segment [Member] Cost of Sales [Member]	Apr. 29, 2012 Hog Production Segment [Member] Cost of Sales [Member]	Apr. 29, 2012 Hog Production Segment [Member] Contract Termination [Member] Cost of Sales [Member]	May 01, 2011 Hog Production Segment [Member] Contract Termination [Member] Cost of Sales [Member]	May 02, 2010 Hog Production Segment [Member] Contract Termination [Member] Cost of Sales [Member]	Apr. 29, 2012 Hog Production Segment [Member] Contract Termination [Member] Cost of Sales [Member]	Apr. 29, 2012 Hog Production Segment [Member] Other Restructuring [Member] Cost of Sales [Member]	May 01, 2011 Hog Production Segment [Member] Other Restructuring [Member] Cost of Sales [Member]	May 02, 2010 Hog Production Segment [Member] Other Restructuring [Member] Cost of Sales [Member]	Apr. 29, 2012 Hog Production Segment [Member] Other Restructuring [Member] Cost of Sales [Member]	Apr. 29, 2012 Hog Production Segment [Member] Accelerated Depreciation Associated with Restructuring and Related Activities [Member] Cost of Sales [Member]	May 01, 2011 Hog Production Segment [Member] Accelerated Depreciation Associated with Restructuring and Related Activities [Member] Cost of Sales [Member]	May 02, 2010 Hog Production Segment [Member] Accelerated Depreciation Associated with Restructuring and Related Activities [Member] Cost of Sales [Member]	Apr. 29, 2012 Hog Production Segment [Member] Accelerated Depreciation Associated with Restructuring and Related Activities [Member] Cost of Sales [Member]	Apr. 29, 2012 Hog Production Segment [Member] Impairment Charges Associated with Restructuring and Related Activities [Member] Cost of Sales [Member]	May 01, 2011 Hog Production Segment [Member] Impairment Charges Associated with Restructuring and Related Activities [Member] Cost of Sales [Member]	May 02, 2010 Hog Production Segment [Member] Impairment Charges Associated with Restructuring and Related Activities [Member] Cost of Sales [Member]	Apr. 29, 2012 Hog Production Segment [Member] Impairment Charges Associated with Restructuring and Related Activities [Member] Cost of Sales [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges	$ 1.3	$ 10.9	$ 15.3	$ 0.5	$ 3.1	$ 28.0	$ 9.1	$ 40.2	$ 0.5	$ 19.4	$ 2.8	$ 22.7	$ 2.5	$ 6.9	$ 0	$ 9.4	$ 0.1	$ 1.7	$ 3.8	$ 5.6	$ 0	$ 0	$ 2.5	$ 2.5