REPORTING SEGMENTS Segment Revenues by Product (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 28, 2013	Apr. 29, 2012	May 01, 2011
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	48.00%	47.00%	47.00%
Packaged Meats [Member] | Pork Segment [Member]
Revenue, Product Category, Percentage	56.00%	54.00%	56.00%
Fresh Pork [Member] | Pork Segment [Member]
Revenue, Product Category, Percentage	44.00%	46.00%	44.00%
Internal Hog Sales [Member] | Hog Production Segment [Member]
Revenue, Product Category, Percentage	76.00%	80.00%	78.00%
External Hog Sales [Member] | Hog Production Segment [Member]
Revenue, Product Category, Percentage	14.00%	17.00%	19.00%
Fresh Meats [Member] | International Segment [Member]
Revenue, Product Category, Percentage	43.00%	43.00%	42.00%
Other Products [Member] | International Segment [Member]
Revenue, Product Category, Percentage	9.00%	10.00%	11.00%
Other Products [Member] | Hog Production Segment [Member]
Revenue, Product Category, Percentage	10.00%	3.00%	3.00%