CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 25, 2012
Net sales	$ 2,036,929	$ 1,888,773
Cost of sales	1,918,495	1,778,708
Gross profit	118,434	110,065
Selling, general and administrative expense	43,992	45,256
Administrative restructuring charges	484	2,885
Operating income	73,958	61,924
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	24,821	28,245
Interest income	(216)	(274)
Foreign currency transaction gains	(7,624)	(5,928)
Miscellaneous, net	(5)	(370)
Income before income taxes	56,982	40,251
Income tax expense	2,754	653
Net income	54,228	39,598
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(354)	425
Net income attributable to Pilgrims Pride Corporation	$ 54,582	$ 39,173
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	258,823	223,562
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)	130	69
Diluted (in shares)	258,953	223,631
Net income per share of common stock outstanding:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.21	$ 0.18
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.21	$ 0.18