CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 27, 2016	Mar. 29, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 118,011	$ 204,193
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	42,391	36,152
Foreign currency transaction loss	0	12,074
Gain on property disposals	(129)	(881)
Share-based compensation	880	797
Deferred income tax benefit	(215)	(2,408)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts and other receivables	(1,894)	13,289
Inventories	22,829	(2,313)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(608)	9,294
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(55,990)	(28,702)
Income taxes	55,261	50,639
Long-term pension and other postretirement obligations	(2,311)	1,617
Other operating assets and liabilities	(362)	2,335
Cash provided by operating activities	177,863	296,086
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment	(37,074)	(32,591)
Proceeds from property disposals	610	867
Cash used in investing activities	(36,464)	(31,724)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from note payable to bank	8,885	0
Payments on note payable to bank	(16,034)	0
Proceeds from revolving line of credit and long-term borrowings	0	1,680,000
Payments on revolving line of credit, long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations	(21)	(533,669)
Proceeds from equity contribution under Tax Sharing Agreement between JBS USA Food Company Holdings and Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	3,691	0
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation	0	7,834
Payment of capitalized loan costs	(13)	(8,862)
Purchase of common stock under share repurchase program	(2,657)	0
Payment of special cash dividends	0	(1,498,470)
Cash used in financing activities	(6,149)	(353,167)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	(9,301)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	135,250	(98,106)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	439,638	576,143
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 574,888	$ 478,037