INVENTORIES (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 23, 2012	Dec. 25, 2011
Inventories	$ 979,243	$ 879,094
Chicken Inventories Live Chicken and Hens [Member]
Inventories	417,961	363,590
Chicken Inventories Feed Eggs and Other [Member]
Inventories	293,768	238,449
Chicken Inventories Finished Chicken Products [Member]
Inventories	267,293	273,363
Chicken Inventories [Member]
Inventories	979,022	875,402
Commercial Feed Table Eggs and Other [Member]
Inventories	$ 221	$ 3,692