CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 25, 2017	Jun. 26, 2016	Jun. 25, 2017	Jun. 26, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,251,604	$ 2,028,315	$ 4,272,096	$ 3,991,252
Cost of sales	1,826,217	1,742,184	3,631,504	3,467,559
Gross profit	425,387	286,131	640,592	523,693
Selling, general and administrative expense	61,636	49,520	124,489	98,308
Administrative restructuring charges	4,349	0	4,349	0
Operating income	359,402	236,611	511,754	425,385
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	15,935	11,548	28,321	23,581
Interest income	(1,044)	(683)	(1,346)	(1,376)
Foreign currency transaction gain	(1,810)	(4,744)	(1,191)	(4,979)
Miscellaneous, net	(970)	(950)	(3,685)	(3,896)
Income before income taxes	347,291	231,440	489,655	412,055
Income tax expense	113,218	78,398	161,119	141,002
Net income	234,073	153,042	328,536	271,053
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	432	156	974	(204)
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	$ 233,641	$ 152,886	$ 327,562	$ 271,257
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	248,753	254,554	248,722	254,681
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)	220	390	228	364
Diluted (in shares)	248,973	254,944	248,950	255,045
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation per share of common stock outstanding:
Basic (usd per share)	$ 0.94	$ 0.60	$ 1.32	$ 1.07
Diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.94	$ 0.60	$ 1.32	$ 1.06