CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 25, 2016	Dec. 27, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 10,767,863	$ 9,878,564	$ 8,752,672
Cost of sales	9,296,249	8,774,581	7,453,948
Gross profit	1,471,614	1,103,983	1,298,724
Selling, general and administrative expense	389,517	310,832	231,838
Administrative restructuring charges	9,775	1,069	5,754
Operating income	1,072,322	792,082	1,061,132
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	107,183	75,636	46,549
Interest income	(7,730)	(2,301)	(3,828)
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains)	(2,659)	4,055	26,148
Miscellaneous, net	(6,538)	(9,344)	(9,061)
Income before income taxes	982,066	724,036	1,001,324
Income tax expense	263,899	243,919	338,352
Net income	718,167	480,117	662,972
Less: Net income from Granite Holdings Sàrl prior to acquisition by Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	23,486	40,388	17,010
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	102	(803)	48
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	$ 694,579	$ 440,532	$ 645,914
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	248,738	253,669	258,442
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)	233	457	234
Diluted (in shares)	248,971	254,126	258,676
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation per share of common stock outstanding:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.79	$ 1.74	$ 2.50
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.79	$ 1.73	$ 2.50