CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 24, 2017	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 24, 2017	Sep. 25, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,793,885	$ 2,495,281	$ 8,025,511	$ 7,507,681
Cost of sales	2,315,301	2,242,221	6,815,701	6,632,568
Gross profit	478,584	253,060	1,209,810	875,113
Selling, general and administrative expense	102,191	75,933	284,009	229,786
Administrative restructuring charges	4,147	279	8,496	279
Operating income	372,246	176,848	917,305	645,048
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	24,636	19,119	66,315	58,480
Interest income	(2,128)	(253)	(3,600)	(2,000)
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)	(888)	4,569	(2,500)	(1,769)
Miscellaneous, net	(1,083)	(2,371)	(5,198)	(7,327)
Income before income taxes	351,709	155,784	862,288	597,664
Income tax expense	113,396	53,819	278,046	202,979
Net income	238,313	101,965	584,242	394,685
Less: Net income from Granite Holdings Sàrl prior to acquisition by Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	6,093	3,438	23,486	25,105
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(460)	(130)	514	(334)
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	$ 232,680	$ 98,657	$ 560,242	$ 369,914
Weighted average shares of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation common stock outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	248,753	254,460	248,732	254,607
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)	235	460	230	430
Diluted (in shares)	248,988	254,920	248,962	255,037
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation per share of common stock outstanding:
Basic (usd per share)	$ 0.94	$ 0.39	$ 2.25	$ 1.45
Diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.93	$ 0.39	$ 2.25	$ 1.45