SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, 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	24,821	28,245
Interest income	(216)	(274)
Foreign currency transaction gains	(7,624)	(5,928)
Miscellaneous, net	(5)	(370)
Income (loss) before income taxes	56,982	40,251
Income tax expense (benefit)	2,754	653
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	54,228	39,598
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Net income (loss)	54,228	39,598
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(354)	425
Net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	54,582	39,173
Parent Company [Member]
Net sales	1,769,794	1,639,563
Cost of sales	1,704,798	1,567,352
Gross profit	64,996	72,211
Selling, general and administrative expense	37,484	40,218
Administrative restructuring charges	484	2,880
Operating income	27,028	29,113
Interest expense, net	24,683	28,076
Interest income	3	9
Foreign currency transaction gains	10	(23)
Miscellaneous, net	1,715	118
Income (loss) before income taxes	4,073	1,141
Income tax expense (benefit)	(5,871)	(4,677)
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	9,944	5,818
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	38,954	33,640
Net income (loss)	48,898	39,458
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	48,898	39,458
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net sales	75,660	76,486
Cost of sales	66,934	67,543
Gross profit	8,726	8,943
Selling, general and administrative expense	1,008	0
Administrative restructuring charges	0	0
Operating income	7,718	8,943
Interest expense, net	0	0
Interest income	0	0
Foreign currency transaction gains	0	0
Miscellaneous, net	(1,221)	9
Income (loss) before income taxes	6,497	8,952
Income tax expense (benefit)	1,969	3,379
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	4,528	5,573
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Net income (loss)	4,528	5,573
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	4,528	5,573
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net sales	259,199	233,289
Cost of sales	214,487	204,378
Gross profit	44,712	28,911
Selling, general and administrative expense	5,500	5,038
Administrative restructuring charges	0	5
Operating income	39,212	23,868
Interest expense, net	138	169
Interest income	213	265
Foreign currency transaction gains	7,614	5,951
Miscellaneous, net	(530)	529
Income (loss) before income taxes	46,371	30,444
Income tax expense (benefit)	6,656	1,951
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	39,715	28,493
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Net income (loss)	39,715	28,493
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(354)	425
Net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	40,069	28,068
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Net sales	(67,724)	(60,565)
Cost of sales	(67,724)	(60,565)
Gross profit	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expense	0	0
Administrative restructuring charges	0	0
Operating income	0	0
Interest expense, net	0	0
Interest income	0	0
Foreign currency transaction gains	0	0
Miscellaneous, net	41	(286)
Income (loss) before income taxes	41	(286)
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	0
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	41	(286)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	(38,954)	(33,640)
Net income (loss)	(38,913)	(33,926)
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	$ (38,913)	$ (33,926)