RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Schedule of Related Party Transactions) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019	Apr. 01, 2018	Dec. 30, 2018
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	$ 3,783	$ 8,685
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	35,054	32,932
Expenditures paid by related party on behalf of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	10,011	10,499
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	2,203	2,308
Accounts receivable from related parties	854		$ 1,331
Accounts payable to related parties	5,550		7,269
JBS USA Food Company
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	3,658	1,529
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	30,413	27,824
Expenditures paid by related party on behalf of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	10,006	10,499
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	2,203	2,288
Accounts receivable from related parties	788		1,236
Accounts payable to related parties	4,562		5,121
Goods in transit	1,700
JBS Five Rivers
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	0	7,096
JBS Global (U.K.) Ltd.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	43	0
Accounts receivable from related parties	43		0
JBS Chile Ltda.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	78	60
Expenditures paid by related party on behalf of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	5	0
Accounts receivable from related parties	20		0
Accounts payable to related parties	0		6
Combo, Mercado de Congelados
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales to related party	4	0
Accounts receivable from related parties	0		79
Seara Meats B.V.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	4,521	4,240
Accounts payable to related parties	930		2,142
JBS Aves Ltda.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	0	703
JBS Toledo NV
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cost of goods purchased from related parties	120	165
Accounts payable to related parties	58		0
Seara International Ltd.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties	0	$ 20
Accounts receivable from related parties	$ 3		$ 16

Related Party Transaction, Expenditures Paid By Related Party On Behalf Of Company

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Related Party Transaction, Expenditures Paid On Behalf Of Related Parties

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Amount for accounts payable to related parties. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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Gross amount of merchandise or supplies to which the entity holds the title but does not hold physical possession because the goods are currently being transported.

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