CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 26, 2016	Jun. 28, 2015	Jun. 26, 2016	Jun. 28, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,028,315	$ 2,053,876	$ 3,991,252	$ 4,106,795
Cost of sales	1,742,184	1,621,856	3,467,559	3,297,655
Gross profit	286,131	432,020	523,693	809,140
Selling, general and administrative expense	49,520	48,834	98,308	98,341
Administrative restructuring charges	0	4,813	0	4,813
Operating income	236,611	378,373	425,385	705,986
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	11,548	11,514	23,581	16,369
Interest income	(683)	(1,277)	(1,376)	(2,767)
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)	(4,744)	2,059	(4,979)	11,033
Miscellaneous, net	(950)	(4,651)	(3,896)	(5,064)
Income before income taxes	231,440	370,728	412,055	686,415
Income tax expense	78,398	129,104	141,002	240,598
Net income	153,042	241,624	271,053	445,817
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	156	135	(204)	113
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	$ 152,886	$ 241,489	$ 271,257	$ 445,704
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	254,554	259,685	254,681	259,669
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)	390	212	364	226
Diluted (in shares)	254,944	259,897	255,045	259,895
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation per share of common stock outstanding:
Basic (usd per share)	$ 0.60	$ 0.93	$ 1.07	$ 1.72
Diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.60	$ 0.93	$ 1.06	$ 1.71