INVENTORIES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 25, 2016	Dec. 27, 2015
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories	$ 796,808	$ 801,357
Live Chicken and Hens [Member]
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories	374,365	365,062
Feed, Eggs and Other [Member]
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories	211,452	215,859
Finished Chicken Products [Member]
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories	201,941	191,988
Chicken Inventories [Member]
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories	787,758	772,909
Commercial Feed and Other [Member]
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories	$ 9,050	$ 28,448