INVENTORIES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories	$ 1,242,352	$ 1,255,070
Live chicken, feed and eggs
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories	819,393	804,136
Finished chicken products
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories	356,719	390,412
Total chicken inventories
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories	1,176,112	1,194,548
Non-chicken inventories
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories	$ 66,240	$ 60,522