RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Schedule of Related Party Transactions) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jul. 01, 2018	Jun. 25, 2017	Jul. 01, 2018	Jun. 25, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	$ 4,479	$ 14,227	$ 13,164	$ 26,035
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	47,966	28,053	80,898	58,703
Expenditures paid by related party on behalf of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	28,766	9,331	39,265	22,139
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	2,800	1,712	5,108	2,577
Accounts receivable from related parties	1,179		1,179		$ 2,951
Accounts payable to related parties	26,941		26,941		2,889
JBS USA Food Company
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	4,479	4,833	6,008	9,396
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	34,003	24,994	61,827	52,283
Expenditures paid by related party on behalf of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	28,763	7,349	39,262	18,298
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	2,625	1,623	4,913	2,488
Accounts receivable from related parties	1,130		1,130		2,826
Accounts payable to related parties	23,379		23,379		440
Inventory in transit	600		600
JBS Five Rivers CAttle Feeding, LLC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	0	9,394	7,096	16,516
JBS Chile Ltda
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	0	0	60	0
Expenditures paid by related party on behalf of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	3	0	3	0
Accounts receivable from related parties	37		37		108
J&F Investimentos
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	0	0	0	104
JBS Global (UK) Ltd.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	0	0	0	19
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	21	0	21	0
Accounts payable to related parties	20		20		0
JBS Seara Meats B.V.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	13,437	3,014	17,677	6,375
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	0	4	0	4
Accounts receivable from related parties	0		0		2
Accounts payable to related parties	3,483		3,483		2,410
JBS Aves Ltda.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	380	0	1,083	0
JBS Toledo NV
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	125	45	290	45
Accounts payable to related parties	59		59		39
JBS SA
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expenditures paid by related party on behalf of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	0	1,918	0	3,777
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	164	5	164	5
Seara Alimentos
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expenditures paid by related party on behalf of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	0	64	0	64
Seara International Ltd.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	11	$ 80	31	$ 80
Accounts receivable from related parties	$ 12		$ 12		$ 15

Related Party Transaction, Expenditures Paid By Related Party On Behalf Of Company

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Amount for accounts payable to related parties. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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