CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 338,386	$ 581,510
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	23,192	8,021
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	561,549	565,478
Accounts receivable from related parties	1,331	2,951
Inventories	1,159,519	1,255,070
Income taxes receivable	38,479	0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	112,023	102,550
Assets held for sale	178	708
Total current assets	2,234,657	2,516,288
Deferred tax assets	4,248	0
Other long-lived assets	16,717	18,165
Identified intangible assets, net	564,128	617,163
Goodwill	949,750	1,001,889
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,161,702	2,095,147
Total assets	5,931,202	6,248,652
Accounts payable	830,059	733,027
Accounts payable to related parties	7,269	2,889
Revenue contract liability	33,328	36,607
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	386,941	410,152
Income taxes payable	8,221	222,073
Current maturities of long-term debt	30,405	47,775
Total current liabilities	1,296,223	1,452,523
Long-term debt, less current maturities	2,295,190	2,635,617
Noncurrent income taxes payable	7,731	0
Deferred tax liabilities	237,422	208,492
Other long-term liabilities	75,051	96,359
Total liabilities	3,911,617	4,392,991
Commitments and contingencies
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued	0	0
Common stock, $.01 par value, 800,000,000 shares authorized; 260,396,032 and 260,167,881 shares issued at year-end 2018 and year-end 2017, respectively; 248,965,081 and 248,752,508 shares outstanding at year-end 2018 and year-end 2017, respectively	2,604	2,602
Treasury stock, at cost, 11,430,951 shares and 11,415,373 shares at year-end 2018 and year-end 2017, respectively	(231,994)	(231,758)
Additional paid-in capital	1,945,136	1,932,509
Retained earnings	421,888	173,943
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(127,834)	(31,140)
Total Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation stockholders’ equity	2,009,800	1,846,156
Noncontrolling interest	9,785	9,505
Total stockholders’ equity	2,019,585	1,855,661
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 5,931,202	$ 6,248,652