RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Schedule of Related Party Transactions) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 25, 2016	Dec. 27, 2015	Apr. 01, 2016	Mar. 07, 2016	Oct. 26, 2011
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related parties	$ 46,723	$ 31,616	$ 22,148
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	127,101	163,398	109,767
Expenditures paid by related parties	44,154	48,644	40,611
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	5,393	10,747	4,056
Other related party transactions:
Capital contribution under tax sharing agreement	5,038	3,690	0
Accounts receivable from related parties	2,951	4,010
Accounts payable to related parties	2,889	4,468
Interest paid	81,260	69,857	42,968
JBS USA Food Company
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related parties	15,289	16,534	21,743
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	101,685	139,476	103,542
Expenditures paid by related parties	40,313	40,519	40,611
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	5,376	10,586	3,998
Other related party transactions:
Accounts receivable from related parties	2,826	3,754
Accounts payable to related parties	440	1,421
Goods in transit	1,700
JBS Five Rivers
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related parties	31,004	14,126	0
JBS Global (UK) Ltd.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related parties	44	122	305
JBS Chile Ltda
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related parties	178	615	100
Other related party transactions:
Accounts receivable from related parties	108	159
J & F Investimentos Ltd.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related parties	104	69	0
JBS SA
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related parties	0	0	0
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	0	0	0
Expenditures paid by related parties	3,777	8,125	0
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	5	86	29
Other related party transactions:
Accounts receivable from related parties	0	46
Seara International Ltd.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related parties	104	4	0
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	11,236	2,746	2,784
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	0	72	29
Other related party transactions:
Accounts receivable from related parties	15	51
JBS Toledo
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related parties	0	143	0
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	231	123	0
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	0	0	0
Other related party transactions:
Accounts payable to related parties	39	21
Rigamonti Salumificio S.P.A.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related parties	0	3	0
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	0	15	0
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	0	3	0
Seara Meats B.V.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	13,949	21,038	3,381
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	12	0	0
Other related party transactions:
Accounts receivable from related parties	2	0
Accounts payable to related parties	2,410	3,026
Macedo Agroindustrial Ltda.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	0	0	60
Seara Alimentos
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expenditures paid by related parties	64	0	0
JBS USA Food Company Holding
Other related party transactions:
Total other related party transactions	5,558	5,240	4,958
Letter of credit, terminated				$ 16,500	$ 40,000
Interest paid	200
JBS USA Food Company Holding | Letter of credit
Other related party transactions:
Agreed reimbursement of debt, up to						$ 56,500
JBS USA Food Company Holding | Letter of credit fees
Other related party transactions:
Letter of credit fees	0	202	1,268
JBS USA Food Company Holding | Tax sharing agreement
Other related party transactions:
Capital contribution under tax sharing agreement	$ 5,558	$ 5,038	$ 3,690