CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 25, 2016	Dec. 27, 2015
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 120,328	$ 439,638
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	4,979	0
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	317,170	348,994
Accounts receivable from related parties	3,913	2,668
Inventories	813,262	801,357
Income taxes receivable	0	71,410
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	57,457	75,602
Assets held for sale	5,259	6,555
Total current assets	1,322,368	1,746,224
Other long-lived assets	15,710	15,672
Identified intangible assets, net	38,593	47,453
Goodwill	125,607	156,565
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,505,940	1,352,529
Total assets	3,008,218	3,318,443
Notes payable to banks	0	28,726
Accounts payable	555,097	482,954
Accounts payable to related parties	1,421	7,000
Accrued expenses	290,699	314,966
Income taxes payable	20,990	13,228
Current maturities of long-term debt	94	86
Total current liabilities	868,301	846,960
Long-term debt, less current maturities	1,011,858	985,509
Deferred tax liabilities	142,651	131,882
Other long-term liabilities	88,661	92,282
Total liabilities	2,111,471	2,056,633
Commitments and contingencies
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued	0	0
Common stock, $.01 par value, 800,000,000 shares authorized; 259,682,000 and 259,685,145 shares issued at year-end 2016 and year-end 2015, respectively; 249,046,139 and 254,823,286 shares outstanding at year-end 2016 and year-end 2015, respectively	2,597	2,597
Treasury stock, at cost, 10,635,861 shares at year-end 2016	(217,117)	(99,233)
Additional paid-in capital	1,686,742	1,675,674
Accumulated deficit	(520,635)	(261,252)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(64,243)	(58,930)
Total Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation stockholders’ equity	887,344	1,258,856
Noncontrolling interest	9,403	2,954
Total stockholders’ equity	896,747	1,261,810
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 3,008,218	$ 3,318,443