Sara Lee Corp , maker of Ball Park hot dogs and Jimmy Dean sausages, reported lower quarterly earnings on Thursday, despite higher sales.

Net income was $469 million, or 79 cents per share, in Sara Lee's fiscal second quarter, ended on December 31, compared to $833 million, or $1.30 per share, a year earlier.

Net sales rose to $2.08 billion from $1.96 billion a year earlier.

(Reporting By Martinne Geller in New York; editing by John Wallace)