CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 26, 2017	Dec. 25, 2016
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 30,762	$ 120,328
Restricted cash	4,415	4,979
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	367,351	317,170
Account receivable from related parties	3,282	3,913
Inventories	924,169	813,262
Income taxes receivable	6,754	0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	77,587	57,457
Assets held for sale	5,015	5,259
Total current assets	1,419,335	1,322,368
Other long-lived assets	16,509	15,710
Identified intangible assets, net	121,880	38,593
Goodwill	222,778	125,607
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,709,843	1,505,940
Total assets	3,490,345	3,008,218
Accounts payable	575,781	555,097
Account payable to related parties	5,089	1,421
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	284,834	290,699
Income taxes payable	50,993	20,990
Current maturities of long-term debt	96	94
Total current liabilities	916,793	868,301
Long-term debt, less current maturities	1,346,990	1,011,858
Deferred tax liabilities	158,494	142,651
Other long-term liabilities	88,717	88,661
Total liabilities	2,510,994	2,111,471
Common stock	2,602	2,597
Treasury stock	(231,758)	(217,117)
Additional paid-in capital	1,688,197	1,686,742
Accumulated deficit	(426,714)	(520,635)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(62,921)	(64,243)
Total Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation stockholders’ equity	969,406	887,344
Noncontrolling interest	9,945	9,403
Total stockholders’ equity	979,351	896,747
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 3,490,345	$ 3,008,218