CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Treasury Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 28, 2014		259,029	0
Balance, beginning of year at Dec. 28, 2014	$ 2,196,801	$ 2,590	$ 0	$ 1,662,354	$ 591,492	$ (62,541)	$ 2,906
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	662,972				662,924		48
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax benefit	(28,932)					(28,932)
Capital contribution under Tax Sharing Agreement between JBS USA Food Company Holdings and Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation (the“TSA”)	3,690			3,690
Share-based compensation plans:
Common stock issued under compensation plans (in shares)		671
Common stock issued under compensation plans	0	$ 7		(7)
Common stock forfeited under compensation plans (in shares)		(15)
Common stock forfeited under compensation plans	(85)			(85)
Requisite service period recognition	3,060			3,060
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation	6,474			6,474
Common stock purchased under share repurchase program (in shares)			(4,862)
Common stock purchased under share repurchase program	(99,233)		$ (99,233)
Special cash dividend	(1,498,470)				(1,498,470)
Other				188	(188)
Stockholders' Equity of Granite Holdings Sàrl (in shares)		13,000
Stockholders' Equity of Granite Holdings Sàrl	1,413,598	$ 304,691		1,414,716	(304,678)		(1,131)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 27, 2015		272,685	4,862
Balance, end of year at Dec. 27, 2015	2,659,875	$ 307,288	$ (99,233)	3,090,390	(548,920)	(91,473)	1,823
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	480,117				480,920		(803)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax benefit	(238,385)					(238,385)
Capital contribution under Tax Sharing Agreement between JBS USA Food Company Holdings and Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation (the“TSA”)	5,039			5,039
Share-based compensation plans:
Requisite service period recognition	6,102			6,102
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation	0
Common stock purchased under share repurchase program (in shares)			(5,774)
Common stock purchased under share repurchase program	(117,884)		$ (117,884)
Capital contributions to subsidiary by noncontrolling participants	7,252						7,252
Common stock purchased from retirement plan participants (in shares)		(3)
Common stock purchased from retirement plan participants	(73)			(73)
Dividend paid by Granite Holdings Sàrl to JBS S.A.	(14,870)				(14,870)
Special cash dividend	(699,915)				(699,915)
Other	(1,126)			(1,126)	0
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 25, 2016		272,682	10,636
Balance, end of year at Dec. 25, 2016	2,086,132	$ 307,288	$ (217,117)	3,100,332	(782,785)	(329,858)	8,272
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	718,167				718,065		102
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax benefit	95,509					95,509
Capital contribution under Tax Sharing Agreement between JBS USA Food Company Holdings and Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation (the“TSA”)	5,558			5,558
Share-based compensation plans:
Common stock issued under compensation plans (in shares)		486
Common stock issued under compensation plans	0	$ 5		(5)
Requisite service period recognition	3,019			3,019
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation	1,100
Common stock purchased under share repurchase program (in shares)			(780)
Common stock purchased under share repurchase program	(14,641)		$ (14,641)
Deemed equity contribution resulting from the transfer of Granite Holdings Sàrl net assets from JBS S.A. to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation in a common-control transaction	237,195			237,195
Transfer of Granite Holdings Sàrl to Pilgrim's from JBS S.A. (in shares)		(13,000)
Transfer of Granite Holdings Sàrl to Pilgrim's from JBS S.A.	(1,275,278)	$ (304,691)		(1,413,590)	238,663	203,209	1,131
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		260,168	11,416
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 1,855,661	$ 2,602	$ (231,758)	$ 1,932,509	$ 173,943	$ (31,140)	$ 9,505