BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS (Fair Values of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Jan. 06, 2017	Dec. 25, 2016	Dec. 27, 2015	Jun. 29, 2015
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 1,001,889		$ 887,221	$ 1,072,206
GNP
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 10
Trade accounts and other receivables		18,453
Inventories		56,459
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		3,414
Property, plant and equipment		144,138
Identifiable intangible assets		131,120
Other long-lived assets		829
Total assets acquired		354,423
Accounts payable		23,848
Other current liabilities		11,866
Other long-term liabilities		3,393
Total liabilities assumed		39,107
Total identifiable net assets		315,316
Goodwill		41,936
Total net assets		$ 357,252
Tyson Mexico
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents					$ 5,535
Trade accounts and other receivables					24,173
Inventories					68,130
Prepaid expenses and other current assets					7,661
Property, plant and equipment					209,139
Identifiable intangible assets					26,411
Other long-lived assets					199
Total assets acquired					341,248
Accounts payable					21,550
Other current liabilities					8,707
Long-term deferred tax liabilities					52,376
Other long-term liabilities					5,155
Total liabilities assumed					87,788
Total identifiable net assets					253,460
Goodwill			$ 125,607	$ 156,565	125,607
Total net assets					$ 379,067