CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 24, 2017	Dec. 25, 2016
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 401,789	$ 292,544
Restricted cash	4,841	4,979
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	624,802	445,553
Accounts receivable from related parties	970	4,010
Inventories	1,196,201	975,608
Income taxes receivable	16,362	0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	102,914	81,932
Assets held for sale	2,777	5,259
Total current assets	2,350,656	1,809,885
Other long-lived assets	20,007	19,260
Identified intangible assets, net	620,693	471,591
Goodwill	995,582	887,221
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,076,347	1,833,985
Total assets	6,063,285	5,021,942
Accounts payable	743,528	790,378
Accounts payable to related parties	7,091	4,468
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	416,476	347,021
Income taxes payable	191,432	27,578
Current maturities of long-term debt	61,811	15,712
Total current liabilities	1,420,338	1,185,157
Long-term debt, less current maturities	2,548,575	1,396,124
Deferred tax liabilities	286,038	251,807
Other long-term liabilities	98,098	102,722
Total liabilities	4,353,049	2,935,810
Common stock	2,602	307,288
Treasury stock	(231,758)	(217,117)
Additional paid-in capital	1,926,386	3,100,332
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	39,606	(782,785)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(36,517)	(329,858)
Total Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation stockholders’ equity	1,700,319	2,077,860
Noncontrolling interest	9,917	8,272
Total stockholders’ equity	1,710,236	2,086,132
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 6,063,285	$ 5,021,942