INVENTORIES (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 24, 2012	Dec. 25, 2011
Inventories	$ 987,992	$ 879,094
Chicken Inventories Live Chicken and Hens [Member]
Inventories	393,500	363,590
Chicken Inventories Feed Eggs and Other [Member]
Inventories	278,543	238,449
Chicken Inventories Finished Chicken Products [Member]
Inventories	312,587	273,363
Chicken Inventories [Member]
Inventories	984,630	875,402
Commercial Feed Table Eggs and Other [Member]
Inventories	3,344	3,674
Other Than Chicken Distribution Inventories [Member]
Inventories	18	18
Other Products Inventories [Member]
Inventories	$ 3,362	$ 3,692