CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 24, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 24, 2012
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,184,119	$ 1,974,469	$ 4,221,048	$ 3,863,242
Cost of sales	1,901,611	1,830,380	3,820,106	3,609,088
Gross profit	282,508	144,089	400,942	254,154
Selling, general and administrative expense	44,099	44,439	88,091	89,695
Administrative restructuring charges	480	389	964	3,274
Operating income	237,929	99,261	311,887	161,185
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	22,965	24,925	47,786	53,170
Interest income	(707)	(356)	(923)	(630)
Foreign currency transaction losses, net	9,713	8,212	2,089	2,284
Miscellaneous, net	(717)	(315)	(722)	(685)
Income (loss) before income taxes	206,675	66,795	263,657	107,046
Income tax expense (benefit)	15,884	(2,358)	18,638	(1,705)
Net income	190,791	69,153	245,019	108,751
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	86	(205)	(268)	220
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	$ 190,705	$ 69,358	$ 245,287	$ 108,531
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:
Basic	258,826	258,726	258,825	241,144
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents	332	115	230	92
Diluted	259,158	258,841	259,055	241,236
Net income per share of common stock outstanding:
Basic	$ 0.74	$ 0.27	$ 0.95	$ 0.45
Diluted	$ 0.74	$ 0.27	$ 0.95	$ 0.45