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 Other Comprehensive Loss	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance, beginning of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		260,168	11,416
Balance, beginning 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	246,804				247,945		(1,141)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax expense	(96,694)					(96,694)
Capital distribution under Tax Sharing Agreement between JBS USA Food Company Holdings and Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (the "TSA")	(524)			(524)
Stock-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 contribution to subsidiary by noncontrolling interest	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
Comprehensive income:
Net income	456,536				455,924		612
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax expense	52,705					52,705
Stock-based compensation plans:
Common stock issued under compensation plans (in shares)		723
Common stock issued under compensation plans	0	$ 7		(7)
Requisite service period recognition	10,132			10,132
Common stock purchased under share repurchase program (in shares)			(116)
Common stock purchased under share repurchase program	(2,898)		$ (2,898)
Balance, end of year (in shares) at Dec. 29, 2019		261,119	11,547
Balance, end of year at Dec. 29, 2019	2,536,060	$ 2,611	$ (234,892)	1,955,261	877,812	(75,129)	10,397
Comprehensive income:
Net income	95,070				94,757		313
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax expense	54,509					54,509
Capital distribution under Tax Sharing Agreement between JBS USA Food Company Holdings and Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (the "TSA")	(650)			(650)
Stock-based compensation plans:
Common stock issued under compensation plans (in shares)		66
Common stock issued under compensation plans	0	$ 1		(1)
Requisite service period recognition	(276)			(276)
Common stock purchased under share repurchase program (in shares)			(6,126)
Common stock purchased under share repurchase program	(110,242)		$ (110,242)
Dissolution of subsidiary	876						876
Balance, end of year (in shares) at Dec. 27, 2020		261,185	17,673
Balance, end of year at Dec. 27, 2020	$ 2,575,347	$ 2,612	$ (345,134)	$ 1,954,334	$ 972,569	$ (20,620)	$ 11,586