CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 25, 2016	Dec. 27, 2015	Dec. 28, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 7,931,123	$ 8,180,104	$ 8,583,365
Cost of sales	7,016,763	6,925,727	7,189,370
Gross profit	914,360	1,254,377	1,393,995
Selling, general and administrative expense	199,781	203,881	188,594
Administrative restructuring charges	1,069	5,605	2,286
Operating income	713,510	1,044,891	1,203,115
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	45,921	37,548	82,097
Interest income	(1,724)	(3,673)	(4,826)
Foreign currency transaction losses	3,897	25,940	27,979
Miscellaneous, net	(7,219)	(7,682)	(4,526)
Income before income taxes	672,635	992,758	1,102,391
Income tax expense	232,906	346,796	390,953
Net income	439,729	645,962	711,438
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(803)	48	(210)
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	$ 440,532	$ 645,914	$ 711,648
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	253,669	258,442	258,974
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)	457	234	497
Diluted (in shares)	254,126	258,676	259,471
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation per share of common stock outstanding:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.74	$ 2.50	$ 2.75
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.73	$ 2.50	$ 2.74