Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 25, 2012	Mar. 27, 2011
Net sales	$ 1,888,773,000	$ 1,892,476,000
Cost of sales	1,778,708,000	1,944,238,000
Operational restructuring charges	0	1,348,000
Gross profit (loss)	110,065,000	(53,110,000)
Selling, general and administrative expense	45,256,000	53,248,000
Administrative restructuring charges, net	2,885,000	418,000
Operating income (loss)	61,924,000	(106,776,000)
Interest expense	28,245,000	27,507,000
Interest income	(274,000)	(710,000)
Foreign currency transaction gains	(5,928,000)	(2,735,000)
Miscellaneous, net	(370,000)	(1,071,000)
Income (loss) before income taxes	40,251,000	(129,767,000)
Income tax expense (benefit)	653,000	(9,872,000)
Net income (loss)	39,598,000	(119,895,000)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	425,000	865,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	39,173,000	(120,760,000)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Comprehensive income (loss)	40,018,000	(120,410,000)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	425,000	865,000
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	$ 39,593,000	$ (121,275,000)
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:
Basic	223,562	224,996
Effect of common stock equivalents	69	0
Diluted	223,631	224,996
Net income (loss) per share of common stock outstanding:
Basic	$ 0.18	$ (0.54)
Diluted	$ 0.18	$ (0.54)