CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 25, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 246,804	$ 718,167	$ 480,117
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	279,657	277,792	231,708
Asset impairment	3,504	5,156	790
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains) related to borrowing arrangements	5,267	(1,387)	0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt recognized as a component of interest expense	15,818	0	0
Amortization of bond premium	(668)	(180)	0
Accretion of bond discount	812	0	0
Gain on property disposals	(1,889)	(506)	(8,914)
Loss (gain) on equity method investments	(63)	(59)	452
Share-based compensation	13,153	3,020	6,102
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	32,540	(49,963)	(5,034)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts and other receivables	(10,918)	(82,169)	(32,428)
Inventories	83,174	(207,399)	(33,083)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(11,612)	(14,827)	19,270
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	86,834	(22,827)	75,893
Income taxes	(248,470)	188,120	75,238
Long-term pension and other postretirement obligations	(6,751)	(10,864)	(10,165)
Other	4,458	(753)	(4,584)
Cash provided by operating activities	491,650	801,321	795,362
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment	(348,666)	(339,872)	(340,960)
Proceeds from property disposals	9,775	4,475	13,375
Purchase of acquired business, net of cash acquired	0	(658,520)	0
Proceeds from settlement of life insurance contract	0	1,845	0
Cash used in investing activities	(338,891)	(992,072)	(327,585)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on revolving line of credit, long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations	(1,117,009)	(628,677)	(570,015)
Proceeds from revolving line of credit and long-term borrowings	748,382	1,871,818	593,015
Payment of capitalized loan costs	(12,581)	(13,631)	(693)
Payment on early extinguishment of debt	(9,781)	0	0
Proceeds from capital contribution under Tax Sharing Agreement between JBS USA Food Company Holdings and Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	5,558	5,038	3,690
Capital contributions to subsidiary by noncontrolling stockholders	1,421	0	7,252
Purchase of common stock under share repurchase program	(236)	(14,641)	(117,884)
Payment of note payable to affiliate	0	(753,512)	0
Payment of cash dividend	0	0	(714,785)
Payments on notes payable to bank	0	0	(65,564)
Proceeds from notes payable to bank	0	0	36,838
Purchase of common stock from retirement plan participants	0	0	(73)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(384,246)	466,395	(828,219)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	3,534	16,364	(38,587)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(227,953)	292,008	(399,029)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	589,531	297,523	696,552
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	361,578	589,531	297,523
Supplemental Disclosure Information:
Interest paid (net of amount capitalized)	154,627	81,260	69,857
Income taxes paid	$ 253,932	$ 122,956	$ 161,026