BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands, bird / WK in Millions			3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 06, 2017 USD ($) employee bird / WK plant	Jun. 29, 2015 USD ($) trade_name	Dec. 27, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 27, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 25, 2016 USD ($) employee bird / WK distribution_center plant	Dec. 27, 2015 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Maximum processing capacity of employees per week (in birds per week) | bird / WK					36.7
Number of employees of acquiree (more than) | employee					39,600
Tyson Mexico [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of equity acquired		100.00%
Negotiated sales price		$ 400,000
Maximum processing capacity of employees per week (in birds per week) | bird / WK					2.9
Number of processing plants acquired | plant					3
Number of employees of acquiree (more than) | employee					4,400
Number of distribution centers acquired | distribution_center					5
Net sales of acquiree since acquisition date			$ 121,700	$ 128,900	$ 141,400	$ 250,600
Net income (loss) of acquiree since acquisition date			$ (10,800)	$ (2,900)	$ 6,300	$ (13,700)
Tyson Mexico [Member] | Trade names [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived trade names acquired, number of trade names valued using the income approach | trade_name		2
Indefinite-lived trade names acquired, royalty rate saved used in determination of fair value		1.40%
Indefinite-lived trade names acquired, net sales growth rate used in determination of fair value, terminal year		3.80%
Indefinite-lived trade names acquired, income tax rate used in determination of fair value		30.00%
Indefinite-lived trade names acquired, income tax amortization benefit rate used in determination of fair value		15.00%
Indefinite-lived trade names acquired, discount rate used in determination of fair value		12.00%
Indefinite-lived trade names acquired, fair value		$ 9,700
Tyson Mexico [Member] | Trade names [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived trade names acquired, royalty rates used in determination of fair value		4.00%
Indefinite-lived trade names acquired, net sales growth rate used in determination of fair value		3.50%
Tyson Mexico [Member] | Trade names [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived trade names acquired, royalty rates used in determination of fair value		5.00%
Indefinite-lived trade names acquired, net sales growth rate used in determination of fair value		4.00%
Tyson Mexico [Member] | Customer relationships [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired, net sales growth rate used in determination of fair value		4.00%
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired, customer attrition rate used in determination of fair value		7.90%
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired, income tax rate used in determination of fair value		30.00%
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired, income tax amortization benefit rate used in determination of fair value		23.40%
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired, discount rate used in determination of fair value		13.50%
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired, fair value		$ 16,700
GNP [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of equity acquired	100.00%
Negotiated sales price	$ 350,000
Maximum processing capacity of employees per week (in birds per week) | bird / WK	2.1
Number of processing plants acquired | plant	3
Number of employees of acquiree (more than) | employee	1,775