CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,031,721	$ 2,112,529	$ 6,022,973	$ 6,219,324
Cost of sales	1,821,504	1,827,985	5,289,063	5,125,640
Gross profit	210,217	284,544	733,910	1,093,684
Selling, general and administrative expense	46,116	52,620	144,424	150,961
Administrative restructuring charges	279	792	279	5,605
Operating income	163,822	231,132	589,207	937,118
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	11,959	10,501	35,540	26,870
Interest income	(125)	(319)	(1,501)	(3,086)
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)	4,142	12,773	(837)	23,806
Miscellaneous, net	(1,741)	(2,071)	(5,637)	(7,135)
Income before income taxes	149,587	210,248	561,642	896,663
Income tax expense	51,060	73,153	192,062	313,751
Net income	98,527	137,095	369,580	582,912
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(130)	33	(334)	146
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	$ 98,657	$ 137,062	$ 369,914	$ 582,766
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	254,460	259,280	254,607	259,540
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)	460	223	430	225
Diluted (in shares)	254,920	259,503	255,037	259,765
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation per share of common stock outstanding:
Basic (usd per share)	$ 0.39	$ 0.53	$ 1.45	$ 2.25
Diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.39	$ 0.53	$ 1.45	$ 2.24