SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 24, 2012	Jun. 26, 2011	Jun. 24, 2012	Jun. 26, 2011
Net sales	$ 1,974,469	$ 1,922,690	$ 3,863,242	$ 3,815,166
Cost of sales	1,830,380	1,966,961	3,609,088	3,911,199
Operational restructuring charges	0	1,957	0	3,305
Gross profit	144,089	(46,228)	254,154	(99,338)
Selling, general and administrative expense	44,439	51,628	89,695	104,876
Restructuring Charges	389	850	3,274	1,268
Operating income	99,261	(98,706)	161,185	(205,482)
Interest expense, net	24,925	27,426	53,170	54,933
Interest income	(356)	(278)	(630)	(988)
Foreign currency transaction losses	8,212	44	2,284	(2,691)
Miscellaneous, net	(315)	(1,436)	(685)	(2,507)
Income (loss) before income taxes	66,795	(124,462)	107,046	(254,229)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(2,358)	3,470	(1,705)	(6,402)
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	69,153	(127,932)	108,751	(247,827)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	69,153	(127,932)	108,751	(247,827)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(205)	209	220	1,074
Net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	69,358	(128,141)	108,531	(248,901)
Comprehensive income (loss)	57,708	(128,148)	97,726	(248,558)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(205)	209	220	1,074
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	57,913	(128,357)	97,506	(249,632)
Parent Company [Member]
Net sales	1,743,061	1,547,207	3,382,624	3,089,877
Cost of sales	1,626,219	1,582,084	3,193,571	3,170,191
Operational restructuring charges		1,957		3,305
Gross profit	116,842	(36,834)	189,053	(83,619)
Selling, general and administrative expense	39,336	43,663	79,554	88,824
Restructuring Charges	389	850	3,269	1,268
Operating income	77,117	(81,347)	106,230	(173,711)
Interest expense, net	24,694	27,312	52,770	54,499
Interest income	(7)	(53)	(16)	(354)
Foreign currency transaction losses	25	28	48	(173)
Miscellaneous, net	(363)	26,579	(481)	51,757
Income (loss) before income taxes	52,768	(135,213)	53,909	(279,440)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(2,410)	(1,222)	(7,087)	(15,972)
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	55,178	(133,991)	60,996	(263,468)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	14,105	5,764	47,745	15,000
Net income (loss)	69,283	(128,227)	108,741	(278,468)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	69,283	(128,227)	108,741	(278,468)
Comprehensive income (loss)	57,838	(128,443)	97,716	(279,199)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	57,838	(128,443)	97,716	(279,199)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net sales	71,854	119,650	148,340	229,660
Cost of sales	65,539	106,940	133,082	209,011
Operational restructuring charges		0		0
Gross profit	6,315	12,710	15,258	20,649
Selling, general and administrative expense	0	0	0	0
Restructuring Charges	0	0	0	0
Operating income	6,315	12,710	15,258	20,649
Interest expense, net	0	0	0	0
Interest income	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency transaction losses	0	0	0	0
Miscellaneous, net	(2)	1,225	(11)	2,352
Income (loss) before income taxes	6,317	11,485	15,269	18,297
Income tax expense (benefit)	2,385	4,336	5,764	6,907
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	3,932	7,149	9,505	11,390
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	3,932	7,149	9,505	11,390
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	3,932	7,149	9,505	11,390
Comprehensive income (loss)	3,932	7,149	9,505	11,390
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	3,932	7,149	9,505	11,390
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net sales	227,555	321,531	460,844	645,154
Cost of sales	206,623	343,635	411,001	681,522
Operational restructuring charges		0		0
Gross profit	20,932	(22,104)	49,843	(36,368)
Selling, general and administrative expense	5,103	7,965	10,141	16,052
Restructuring Charges	0	0	5	0
Operating income	15,829	(30,069)	39,697	(52,420)
Interest expense, net	231	114	400	434
Interest income	(349)	(225)	(614)	(634)
Foreign currency transaction losses	8,187	16	2,236	(2,518)
Miscellaneous, net	129	(29,150)	(400)	(57,048)
Income (loss) before income taxes	7,631	(824)	38,075	7,346
Income tax expense (benefit)	(2,333)	356	(382)	2,663
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	9,964	(1,180)	38,457	4,683
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	9,964	(1,180)	38,457	4,683
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(205)	209	220	1,074
Net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	10,169	4,998	38,237	3,609
Comprehensive income (loss)	9,964	(1,180)	38,457	4,683
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(205)	209	220	1,074
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	10,169	(1,389)	38,237	3,609
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Net sales	(68,001)	(65,698)	(128,566)	(149,525)
Cost of sales	(68,001)	(65,698)	(128,566)	(149,525)
Operational restructuring charges		0		0
Gross profit	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expense	0	0	0	0
Restructuring Charges	0	0	0	0
Operating income	0	0	0	0
Interest expense, net	0	0	0	0
Interest income	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency transaction losses	0	0	0	0
Miscellaneous, net	(79)	(90)	207	432
Income (loss) before income taxes	79	90	(207)	(432)
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	79	90	(207)	(432)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	(14,105)	(5,764)	(47,745)	(15,000)
Net income (loss)	(14,026)	(5,674)	(47,952)	14,568
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	(14,026)	(5,674)	(47,952)	14,568
Comprehensive income (loss)	(14,026)	(5,674)	(47,952)	14,568
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	$ (14,026)	$ (5,674)	$ (47,952)	$ 14,568