CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 29, 2013		259,029	0
Balance, beginning of year at Dec. 29, 2013	$ 1,492,602,000	$ 2,590,000	$ 0	$ 1,653,119,000	$ (120,156,000)	$ (45,735,000)	$ 2,784,000
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	711,438,000				711,648,000		(210,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(16,806,000)					(16,806,000)
Capital contribution to subsidiary by noncontrolling interest	332,000						332,000
Capital contribution under Tax Sharing Agreement between JBS USA Food Company Holdings and Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (the“TSA”)	3,849,000			3,849,000
Share-based compensation plans:
Requisite service period recognition	4,928,000			4,928,000
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation	458,000			458,000
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 28, 2014		259,029	0
Balance, end of year at Dec. 28, 2014	2,196,801,000	$ 2,590,000	$ 0	1,662,354,000	591,492,000	(62,541,000)	2,906,000
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	645,962,000				645,914,000		48,000
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	3,611,000					3,611,000
Capital contribution under Tax Sharing Agreement between JBS USA Food Company Holdings and Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (the“TSA”)	3,690,000			3,690,000
Share-based compensation plans:
Common stock issued under compensation plans (in shares)		671
Common stock issued under compensation plans	0	$ 7,000		(7,000)
Common stock forfeited under compensation plans (in shares)		(15)
Common stock forfeited under compensation plans	(85,000)	$ 0		(85,000)
Requisite service period recognition	3,060,000			3,060,000
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation	6,474,000			6,474,000
Common stock purchased under share repurchase program (in shares)			(4,862)
Common stock purchased under share repurchase program	(99,233,000)		$ (99,233,000)
Special cash dividend	(1,498,470,000)				(1,498,470,000)
Other	0			188,000	(188,000)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 27, 2015		259,685	4,862
Balance, end of year at Dec. 27, 2015	1,261,810,000	$ 2,597,000	$ (99,233,000)	1,675,674,000	(261,252,000)	(58,930,000)	2,954,000
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	439,729,000				440,532,000		(803,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(5,313,000)					(5,313,000)
Capital contribution to subsidiary by noncontrolling interest	7,252,000						7,252,000
Capital contribution under Tax Sharing Agreement between JBS USA Food Company Holdings and Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (the“TSA”)	5,039,000			5,039,000
Share-based compensation plans:
Requisite service period recognition	6,102,000			6,102,000
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation	0
Common stock purchased under share repurchase program (in shares)			(5,774)
Common stock purchased under share repurchase program	(117,884,000)		$ (117,884,000)
Common stock purchased from retirement plan participants (in shares)		(3)
Common stock purchased from retirement plan participants	(73,000)			(73,000)
Special cash dividend	(699,915,000)				(699,915,000)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 25, 2016		259,682	10,636
Balance, end of year at Dec. 25, 2016	$ 896,747,000	$ 2,597,000	$ (217,117,000)	$ 1,686,742,000	$ (520,635,000)	$ (64,243,000)	$ 9,403,000