INVENTORIES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 25, 2016
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories	$ 1,255,070	$ 975,608
Total chicken inventories
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories	1,194,548	908,348
Live chicken and hens
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories	585,525	407,475
Feed, eggs and other
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories	218,611	257,049
Finished chicken products
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories	390,412	243,824
Commercial feed, table eggs and other
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories	$ 60,522	$ 67,260