SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 24, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 24, 2012
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
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	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)
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	190,791	69,153	245,019	108,751
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries
Net income	190,791	69,153	245,019	108,751
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	86	(205)	(268)	220
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	190,705	69,358	245,287	108,531
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	(187,970)	(68,001)	(255,694)	(128,566)
Cost of sales	(187,970)	(68,001)	(255,694)	(128,566)
Gross profit
Selling, general and administrative expense
Administrative restructuring charges
Operating income
Interest expense, net
Interest income
Foreign currency transaction losses, net
Miscellaneous, net	223	(79)	182	207
Income (loss) before income taxes	(223)	79	(182)	(207)
Income tax expense (benefit)
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	(223)	79	(182)	(207)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	(41,526)	(14,180)	(86,164)	(47,535)
Net income	(41,749)	(14,101)	(86,346)	(47,742)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	(41,749)	(14,101)	(86,346)	(47,742)
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	1,879,632	1,743,061	3,649,426	3,382,624
Cost of sales	1,678,181	1,626,219	3,382,979	3,193,571
Gross profit	201,451	116,842	266,447	189,053
Selling, general and administrative expense	37,013	39,336	74,497	79,554
Administrative restructuring charges	480	389	964	3,269
Operating income	163,958	77,117	190,986	106,230
Interest expense, net	22,781	24,694	47,464	52,770
Interest income	(3)	(7)	(6)	(16)
Foreign currency transaction losses, net	1	25	(9)	48
Miscellaneous, net	(2,031)	(363)	(3,746)	(481)
Income (loss) before income taxes	143,210	52,768	147,283	53,909
Income tax expense (benefit)	(5,969)	(2,410)	(11,840)	(7,087)
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	149,179	55,178	159,123	60,996
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	41,526	14,180	86,164	47,535
Net income	190,705	69,358	245,287	108,531
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	190,705	69,358	245,287	108,531
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	195,758	71,854	271,418	148,340
Cost of sales	182,082	65,539	249,016	133,082
Gross profit	13,676	6,315	22,402	15,258
Selling, general and administrative expense	1,111		2,119
Administrative restructuring charges
Operating income	12,565	6,315	20,283	15,258
Interest expense, net
Interest income
Foreign currency transaction losses, net
Miscellaneous, net	1,088	(2)	2,309	(11)
Income (loss) before income taxes	11,477	6,317	17,974	15,269
Income tax expense (benefit)	3,885	2,385	5,854	5,764
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	7,592	3,932	12,120	9,505
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries
Net income	7,592	3,932	12,120	9,505
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	7,592	3,932	12,120	9,505
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	296,699	227,555	555,898	460,844
Cost of sales	229,318	206,623	443,805	411,001
Gross profit	67,381	20,932	112,093	49,843
Selling, general and administrative expense	5,975	5,103	11,475	10,141
Administrative restructuring charges				5
Operating income	61,406	15,829	100,618	39,697
Interest expense, net	184	231	322	400
Interest income	(704)	(349)	(917)	(614)
Foreign currency transaction losses, net	9,712	8,187	2,098	2,236
Miscellaneous, net	3	129	533	(400)
Income (loss) before income taxes	52,211	7,631	98,582	38,075
Income tax expense (benefit)	17,968	(2,333)	24,624	(382)
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	34,243	9,964	73,958	38,457
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries
Net income	34,243	9,964	73,958	38,457
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	86	(205)	(268)	220
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	$ 34,157	$ 10,169	$ 74,226	$ 38,237