CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 711,438	$ 549,713	$ 174,042
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	155,824	150,523	147,414
Asset impairment	0	4,004	2,770
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains)	38,129	3,382	(5,261)
Accretion of bond discount	2,243	456	456
Loss (gain) on property disposals	(1,407)	2,395	5,306
Share-based compensation	4,928	3,345	684
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	78,943	(4,999)	(1,098)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	0	0	12,680
Trade accounts and other receivables	(9,526)	7,235	(14,137)
Inventories	10,638	142,675	(65,870)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(38,010)	(6,070)	(2,600)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	44,833	49,625	(16,520)
Income taxes	74,705	(21,546)	(33,714)
Deposits	0	1,877	1,783
Long-term pension and other postretirement obligations	(5,784)	(6,837)	(2,700)
Other	(262)	2,755	(3,611)
Cash provided by operating activities	1,066,692	878,533	199,624
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment	(171,443)	(116,223)	(90,327)
Purchases of investment securities	(55,100)	(96,902)	(162)
Proceeds from sale or maturity of investment securities	152,050	0	688
Proceeds from property disposals	11,108	31,337	29,400
Cash used in investing activities	(63,385)	(181,788)	(60,401)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on notes payable to JBS USA	0	0	(50,000)
Proceeds from long-term debt	0	505,600	851,400
Payments on long-term debt	(910,234)	(758,578)	(1,110,711)
Proceeds from sale of subsidiary common stock	332	0	198,282
Proceeds from equity contribution under Tax Sharing Agreement between JBS USA Holdings Inc. and Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	3,849	0	0
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation	458	7,771	0
Payment of capitalized loan costs	0	(5,007)	0
Cash used in financing activities	(905,595)	(250,214)	(111,029)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(29,775)	(6,505)	(1,623)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	67,937	440,026	26,571
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	508,206	68,180	41,609
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	576,143	508,206	68,180
Supplemental Disclosure Information:
Interest paid (net of amount capitalized)	71,558	80,320	96,657
Income taxes paid	$ 257,152	$ 30,057	$ 10,931