CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - 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
Balance, beginning of year (in shares) at Dec. 27, 2015		272,685	4,862
Balance, beginning of year at Dec. 27, 2015	$ 2,659,875	$ 307,288	$ (99,233)	$ 3,090,390	$ (548,920)	$ (91,473)	$ 1,823
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	480,117				480,920		(803)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax expense	(238,385)					(238,385)
Capital distribution under the TSA	5,039			5,039
Share-based compensation plans:
Requisite service period recognition	6,102			6,102
Common stock purchased under share repurchase program (in shares)			(5,774)
Common stock purchased under share repurchase program	(117,884)		$ (117,884)
Capital contributions to subsidiary by noncontrolling participants	7,252						7,252
Common stock purchased from retirement plan participants (in shares)		(3)
Common stock purchased from retirement plan participants	(73)			(73)
Dividend paid by Granite Holdings Sàrl to JBS S.A.	(14,870)				(14,870)
Special cash dividend	(699,915)				(699,915)
Other	(1,126)			(1,126)
Balance, end of year (in shares) at Dec. 25, 2016		272,682	10,636
Balance, end of year at Dec. 25, 2016	2,086,132	$ 307,288	$ (217,117)	3,100,332	(782,785)	(329,858)	8,272
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	718,167				718,065		102
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax expense	95,509					95,509
Capital distribution under the TSA	5,558			5,558
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	3,019			3,019
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 to Pilgrim's from JBS S.A. (in shares)		(13,000)
Transfer of Granite Holdings Sàrl to Pilgrim's from JBS S.A.	(1,275,278)	$ (304,691)		(1,413,590)	238,663	203,209	1,131
Balance, end of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		260,168	11,416
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2017	1,855,661	$ 2,602	$ (231,758)	1,932,509	173,943	(31,140)	9,505
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	246,804				247,945		(1,141)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax expense	(96,694)					(96,694)
Capital distribution under the TSA	(524)			(524)
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	13,153			13,153
Common stock purchased under share repurchase program (in shares)			(15)
Common stock purchased under share repurchase program	(236)		$ (236)
Capital contributions to subsidiary by noncontrolling participants	1,421						1,421
Balance, end of year (in shares) at Dec. 30, 2018		260,396	11,431
Balance, end of year at Dec. 30, 2018	$ 2,019,585	$ 2,604	$ (231,994)	$ 1,945,136	$ 421,888	$ (127,834)	$ 9,785