RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Schedule of Related Party Transactions) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	$ 4,037	$ 11,494	$ 17,201	$ 56,728
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	37,475	34,653	118,373	93,353
Expenditures paid by related party on behalf of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	10,147	10,856	49,412	32,951
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	1,938	1,516	7,046	4,065
Accounts receivable from related parties	652		652		$ 2,951
Accounts payable to related parties	6,795		6,795		2,889
JBS USA Food Company
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	4,035	4,221	10,043	13,618
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	29,094	31,161	90,921	83,444
Expenditures paid by related party on behalf of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	10,145	10,856	49,407	29,127
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	1,938	1,516	6,851	3,976
Accounts receivable from related parties	614		614		2,826
Accounts payable to related parties	4,039		4,039		440
Inventory in transit	2,200		2,200
JBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, LLC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	0	7,271	7,096	23,787
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	2	0	5	0
Accounts receivable from related parties	35		35		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	19,217
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	0	0	21	0
Seara International Ltd.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	0	2	0	2
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	0	0	31	80
Accounts receivable from related parties	3		3		15
Combo, Mercado de Congelados
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	2	0	2	0
JBS Seara Meats B.V.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	8,341	3,343	26,018	9,719
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	0	0	0	4
Accounts receivable from related parties	0		0		2
Accounts payable to related parties	2,726		2,726		2,410
JBS Aves Ltda.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	40	0	1,123	0
JBS Toledo NV
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	0	149	290	190
Accounts payable to related parties	30		30		$ 39
JBS SA
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expenditures paid by related party on behalf of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	0	0	0	3,824
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	$ 0	$ 0	$ 164	$ 5

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