CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 576,143	$ 508,206
Investment in available-for-sale securities	0	96,902
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	378,890us-gaap_ReceivablesNetCurrent	376,678us-gaap_ReceivablesNetCurrent
Accounts receivable from related parties	5,250us-gaap_DueFromRelatedPartiesCurrent	2,388us-gaap_DueFromRelatedPartiesCurrent
Inventories	790,305us-gaap_InventoryNet	808,832us-gaap_InventoryNet
Income taxes receivable	10,288ppc_IncomeTaxesReceivableNet	64,868ppc_IncomeTaxesReceivableNet
Current deferred tax assets	27,345	2,227
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	95,439	61,848
Assets held for sale	1,419	7,033
Total current assets	1,885,079us-gaap_AssetsCurrent	1,928,982us-gaap_AssetsCurrent
Deferred tax assets	0ppc_DeferredTaxAssets	18,921ppc_DeferredTaxAssets
Other long-lived assets	24,406us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent	40,163us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent
Identified intangible assets, net	26,783	32,525
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,182,795us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	1,151,811us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Total assets	3,119,063us-gaap_Assets	3,172,402us-gaap_Assets
Accounts payable	399,486us-gaap_AccountsPayableCurrent	370,360us-gaap_AccountsPayableCurrent
Accounts payable to related parties	4,862	3,934
Accrued expenses	311,879us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	283,355us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent
Income taxes payable	3,068ppc_IncomeTaxesPayable	0ppc_IncomeTaxesPayable
Current deferred tax liabilities	25,301us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesCurrent	15,515us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesCurrent
Current maturities of long-term debt	262us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent	410,234us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent
Total current liabilities	744,858us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent	1,083,398us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent
Long-term debt, less current maturities	3,980us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent	501,999us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
Deferred tax liabilities	76,216	13,944
Other long-term liabilities	97,208us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	80,459us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent
Total liabilities	922,262us-gaap_Liabilities	1,679,800us-gaap_Liabilities
Commitments and contingencies
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued	0us-gaap_PreferredStockValue	0us-gaap_PreferredStockValue
Common stock, $.01 par value, 800,000,000 shares authorized; 259,029,033 shares issued and outstanding at year-end 2014 and 2013	2,590us-gaap_CommonStockValue	2,590us-gaap_CommonStockValue
Additional paid-in capital	1,662,354us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapital	1,653,119us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapital
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	591,492	(120,156)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(62,541)	(45,735)
Total Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation stockholders’ equity	2,193,895us-gaap_StockholdersEquity	1,489,818us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
Noncontrolling interest	2,906us-gaap_MinorityInterest	2,784us-gaap_MinorityInterest
Total stockholders’ equity	2,196,801	1,492,602
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 3,119,063	$ 3,172,402

For entities that net deferred tax assets and tax liabilities, represents the net amount of deferred tax assets (after reduction for valuation allowance) and liabilities as of the balance sheet date, which result from applying the applicable enacted tax rate to net temporary differences and carry forwards pertaining to assets or liabilities that are classified as current in the financial statements, or that are expected to reverse in the next twelve months (or normal operating cycle, if longer). A temporary difference is a difference between the tax basis of an asset or liability and its carrying amount in the financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles that will reverse in ensuing periods. In a classified statement of financial position, an enterprise separates deferred tax liabilities and assets into a current amount and a noncurrent amount. Deferred tax liabilities and assets are classified as current or noncurrent based on the classification of the related asset or liability for financial reporting. A deferred tax liability or asset that is not related to an asset or liability for financial reporting, including deferred tax assets related to carry forwards, are classified according to the expected reversal date of the temporary difference.

No definition available.