CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 28, 2015	Jun. 29, 2014	Jun. 28, 2015	Jun. 29, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,053,876	$ 2,186,816	$ 4,106,795	$ 4,204,881
Cost of sales	1,621,856	1,837,341	3,297,655	3,640,300
Gross profit	432,020	349,475	809,140	564,581
Selling, general and administrative expense	48,834	48,607	98,341	93,808
Administrative restructuring charges	4,813	438	4,813	2,151
Operating income	378,373	300,430	705,986	468,622
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	11,514	14,562	16,369	34,035
Interest income	(1,277)	(992)	(2,767)	(1,803)
Foreign currency transaction loss	2,059	(1,819)	11,033	(1,482)
Miscellaneous, net	(4,651)	(993)	(5,064)	(1,999)
Income before income taxes	370,728	289,672	686,415	439,871
Income tax expense	129,104	99,227	240,598	151,239
Net income	241,624	190,445	445,817	288,632
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	135	85	113	155
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	$ 241,489	$ 190,360	$ 445,704	$ 288,477
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	259,685	258,977	259,669	258,950
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)	212	597	226	560
Diluted (in shares)	259,897	259,574	259,895	259,510
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation per share of common stock outstanding:
Basic (usd per share)	$ 0.93	$ 0.73	$ 1.72	$ 1.11
Diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.93	$ 0.73	$ 1.71	$ 1.11