CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED) - 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	Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Common Stock	Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Treasury Stock	Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Additional Paid-in Capital	Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Noncontrolling Interest	Granite Holdings Sarl	Granite Holdings Sarl Common Stock	Granite Holdings Sarl Treasury Stock	Granite Holdings Sarl Additional Paid-in Capital	Granite Holdings Sarl Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	Granite Holdings Sarl Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Granite Holdings Sarl Noncontrolling Interest
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 25, 2016		272,682	10,636						259,682	10,636						13,000	0
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 25, 2016	$ 2,086,132	$ 307,288	$ (217,117)	$ 3,100,332	$ (782,785)	$ (329,858)	$ 8,272	$ 896,747	$ 2,597	$ (217,117)	$ 1,686,742	$ (520,635)	$ (64,243)	$ 9,403	$ 1,189,385	$ 304,691	$ 0	$ 1,413,590	$ (262,150)	$ (265,615)	$ (1,131)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	584,242
Net income including NCI and acquiree prior to acquisition	584,242				583,728		514
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	90,132					90,132
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	2,454			2,454
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 net assets from JBS S.A. to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation in a common-control transaction (in shares)		(13,000)
Transfer of Granite Holdings Sàrl net assets from JBS S.A. to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation in a common-control transaction	(1,275,278)	$ (304,691)		(1,413,590)	238,663	203,209	1,131
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 24, 2017		260,168	11,416
Balance, end of period at Sep. 24, 2017	1,710,236	$ 2,602	$ (231,758)	1,926,386	39,606	(36,517)	9,917
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		260,168	11,416
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2017	1,855,661	$ 2,602	$ (231,758)	1,932,509	173,943	(31,140)	9,505
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	255,031				255,269		(238)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(52,408)					(52,408)
Share-based compensation plans:
Common stock issued under compensation plans (in shares)		228
Common stock issued under compensation plans	0	$ 2		(2)
Requisite service period recognition	9,259			9,259
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018		260,396	11,416
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2018	$ 2,067,543	$ 2,604	$ (231,758)	$ 1,941,766	$ 429,212	$ (83,548)	$ 9,267