LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER BORROWING ARRANGEMENTS (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended									1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended							3 Months Ended					3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 Us and Puertorico Subsidiaries [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Foreign Subsidiaries [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Senior Notes [Member]	Dec. 30, 2012 Senior Notes [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Senior Subordinated and Unsecured Notes [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Senior Unsecured Notes One [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Senior Unsecured Notes Two [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Subordinated Loan [Member] Holding Company Jbs Usa [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Subordinated Loan [Member] Holding Company Jbs Usa [Member]	Feb. 29, 2012 Subordinated Loan [Member] Holding Company Jbs Usa [Member]	Jun. 23, 2011 Subordinated Loan [Member] Holding Company Jbs Usa [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Revolving Credit Facility and Term B Facility [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Us Credit Facility Term Notes Payable B [Member]	Dec. 28, 2009 Us Credit Facility Term Notes Payable B [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Us Credit Facility [Member]	Apr. 22, 2011 Line Of Credit Sublimit Swingline Loans [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Us Credit Facility Revolving Loan [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Us Credit Facility Outstanding Borrowings [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Us Credit Facility Letters Of Credit [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Letter Of Credit [Member] Holding Company Jbs Usa [Member]	Oct. 26, 2011 Letter Of Credit [Member] Holding Company Jbs Usa [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Loan Commitment Under Mexico Credit Facility [Member]	Dec. 30, 2012 Term B Loan [Member]
Long-term Debt	$ 1,142,365,000	$ 1,164,756,000			$ 497,415,000	$ 497,301,000	$ 3,900,000								$ 555,200,000			$ 687,300,000		$ 577,700,000	$ 85,000,000	$ 24,600,000			$ 45,200,000	$ 141,200,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage					7.875%		8.375%	7.625%	9.25%
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity														700,000,000				1,850,000,000	100,000,000
Number Of Shares Granted To Stockholders As Per Loan Agreement											44,444,444
Debt Amount Permitted To Be Prepaid Following Consummation Of Rights Offering												50,000,000
Termination Of Agreement Relating To Remaining Borrowing Capacity												50,000,000
Repayments of Debt										50,000,000	50,000,000
Debt Issuance Cost Payable																							200,000
Line Of Credit Facility Feature To Increase Aggregate Revolving Loan Commitment															400,000,000		100,000,000
Accumulated Capitalized Interest Costs																50,000,000
Reduced Minimum Allowable Consolidated Tangible Net Worth Description																		$450.0 million plus 50% of the cumulative net income (excluding any losses)
Percentage Of Equity Interest Guaranteed For Debt			100.00%	65.00%
Payment of capitalized loan costs																							600,000
Agreed Repayment Of Debt																								56,500,000
Debt Instrument, Face Amount													50,000,000											56,500,000
Credit Facility Availed													100,000,000
Credit Facility Capital Expenditures	$ 350,000,000