CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 26, 2017	Mar. 27, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 94,463	$ 118,011
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	50,390	42,391
Foreign currency transaction loss	2,158	0
Loss (gain) on property disposals	118	(129)
Loss on equity method investments	(13)	0
Share-based compensation	1,460	880
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	13,330	(215)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts and other receivables	(33,681)	(1,894)
Inventories	(54,448)	22,829
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(16,715)	7,023
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(18,072)	(55,990)
Income taxes	25,380	55,261
Long-term pension and other postretirement obligations	(1,633)	(2,311)
Other operating assets and liabilities	(1,283)	(362)
Cash provided by operating activities	61,454	185,494
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment	(114,487)	(37,074)
Purchase of acquired business, net of cash acquired	(359,698)	0
Proceeds from property disposals	181	610
Cash used in investing activities	(474,004)	(36,464)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from note payable to bank	0	8,885
Payments on note payable to bank	0	(16,034)
Proceeds from revolving line of credit and long-term borrowings	662,795	0
Payments on revolving line of credit, long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations	(330,772)	(21)
Proceeds from equity contribution under Tax Sharing Agreement between JBS USA Food Company Holdings and Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	5,038	3,691
Payment of capitalized loan costs	0	(13)
Purchase of common stock under share repurchase program	(14,641)	(2,657)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities	322,420	(6,149)
Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(90,130)	142,881
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	125,307	439,638
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	$ 35,177	$ 582,519