SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012	Dec. 25, 2011	Dec. 26, 2010
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 508,206	$ 68,180	$ 41,609	$ 106,077
Restricted cash and cash equivalents
Investment in available-for-sale securities	96,902
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	376,678	384,930
Account receivable from JBS USA, LLC	2,388	1,514
Inventories	808,832	950,296
Income taxes receivable	64,868	54,719
Current deferred tax assets	2,227
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	61,848	56,047
Assets held for sale	7,033	27,042
Total current assets	1,928,982	1,542,728
Investment in available-for-sale securities
Intercompany receivable
Investment in subsidiaries
Deferred tax assets	18,921	97,431
Other long-lived assets	40,163	45,523
Identified intangible assets, net	32,525	38,266
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,151,811	1,189,921
Total assets	3,172,402	2,913,869
Current maturities of long-term debt	410,234	15,886
Accounts payable	370,360	312,365
Accounts payable to JBS USA, LLC	3,934	13,436
Accrued expenses	283,355	283,540
Income taxes payable		468
Current deferred tax liabilities	15,515	104,482
Total current liabilities	1,083,398	730,177
Long-term debt, less current maturities	501,999	1,148,870
Note payable to JBS USA Holdings, Inc.
Intercompany payable
Deferred tax liabilities	13,944
Other long-term liabilities	80,459	125,825
Total liabilities	1,679,800	2,004,872
Total Pilgrim's Pride Corporation stockholders' equity	1,489,818	906,371
Noncontrolling interest	2,784	2,626
Total stockholders' equity	1,492,602	908,997	558,430	1,078,596
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,172,402	2,913,869
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash and cash equivalents
Investment in available-for-sale securities
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts
Account receivable from JBS USA, LLC
Inventories
Income taxes receivable	(587)	(587)
Current deferred tax assets	(7,190)	(4,300)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Assets held for sale
Total current assets	(7,777)	(4,887)
Investment in available-for-sale securities
Intercompany receivable	(49,935)	(73,566)
Investment in subsidiaries	(472,431)	(376,226)
Deferred tax assets	(5,998)	(4,091)
Other long-lived assets	(180,000)	(180,000)
Identified intangible assets, net
Property, plant and equipment, net	(4,764)	(3,889)
Total assets	(720,905)	(642,659)
Current maturities of long-term debt
Accounts payable
Accounts payable to JBS USA, LLC
Accrued expenses
Income taxes payable	(587)	(587)
Current deferred tax liabilities	(7,190)	(4,300)
Total current liabilities	(7,777)	(4,887)
Long-term debt, less current maturities	(25,000)	(25,000)
Note payable to JBS USA Holdings, Inc.
Intercompany payable	(49,935)	(73,566)
Deferred tax liabilities	(5,995)	(4,091)
Other long-term liabilities
Total liabilities	(88,707)	(107,544)
Total Pilgrim's Pride Corporation stockholders' equity	(632,198)	(535,115)
Noncontrolling interest
Total stockholders' equity	(632,198)	(535,115)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	(720,905)	(642,659)
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	413,092	27,657	13,733	67,685
Restricted cash and cash equivalents
Investment in available-for-sale securities	96,902
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	327,367	326,031
Account receivable from JBS USA, LLC	2,388	1,514
Inventories	696,604	802,282
Income taxes receivable	52,662	55,306
Current deferred tax assets	3,213
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	34,881	29,603
Assets held for sale	6,798	9,808
Total current assets	1,633,907	1,252,201
Investment in available-for-sale securities
Intercompany receivable	(64,772)	19,860
Investment in subsidiaries	472,431	376,226
Deferred tax assets	5,995	101,100
Other long-lived assets	37,282	44,936
Identified intangible assets, net	23,463	27,386
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,009,711	1,043,696
Total assets	3,118,017	2,865,405
Current maturities of long-term debt	410,234	15,886
Accounts payable	308,154	255,517
Accounts payable to JBS USA, LLC	3,934	13,436
Accrued expenses	269,062	230,278
Income taxes payable
Current deferred tax liabilities	7,190	108,201
Total current liabilities	998,574	623,318
Long-term debt, less current maturities	526,999	1,173,870
Note payable to JBS USA Holdings, Inc.
Intercompany payable
Deferred tax liabilities	13,944
Other long-term liabilities	77,228	122,580
Total liabilities	1,616,745	1,919,768
Total Pilgrim's Pride Corporation stockholders' equity	1,501,272	945,637
Noncontrolling interest
Total stockholders' equity	1,501,272	945,637
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,118,017	2,865,405
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents			30
Restricted cash and cash equivalents
Investment in available-for-sale securities
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	1,380	1,843
Account receivable from JBS USA, LLC
Inventories	20,215	22,813
Income taxes receivable
Current deferred tax assets	5,698	3,794
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	270
Assets held for sale
Total current assets	27,563	28,450
Investment in available-for-sale securities
Intercompany receivable	114,707	53,706
Investment in subsidiaries
Deferred tax assets
Other long-lived assets
Identified intangible assets, net
Property, plant and equipment, net	44,643	45,746
Total assets	186,913	127,902
Current maturities of long-term debt
Accounts payable	12,711	4,270
Accounts payable to JBS USA, LLC
Accrued expenses	33,821	24,265
Income taxes payable
Current deferred tax liabilities
Total current liabilities	46,532	28,535
Long-term debt, less current maturities
Note payable to JBS USA Holdings, Inc.
Intercompany payable
Deferred tax liabilities	5,698	3,794
Other long-term liabilities
Total liabilities	52,230	32,329
Total Pilgrim's Pride Corporation stockholders' equity	134,683	95,573
Noncontrolling interest
Total stockholders' equity	134,683	95,573
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	186,913	127,902
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	95,114	40,523	27,846	38,392
Restricted cash and cash equivalents
Investment in available-for-sale securities
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	47,931	57,056
Account receivable from JBS USA, LLC
Inventories	92,013	125,201
Income taxes receivable	12,793
Current deferred tax assets	506	506
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	26,697	26,444
Assets held for sale	235	17,234
Total current assets	275,289	266,964
Investment in available-for-sale securities
Intercompany receivable
Investment in subsidiaries
Deferred tax assets	18,924	422
Other long-lived assets	182,881	180,587
Identified intangible assets, net	9,062	10,880
Property, plant and equipment, net	102,221	104,368
Total assets	588,377	563,221
Current maturities of long-term debt
Accounts payable	49,495	52,578
Accounts payable to JBS USA, LLC
Accrued expenses	(19,528)	28,997
Income taxes payable	587	1,055
Current deferred tax liabilities	15,515	581
Total current liabilities	46,069	83,211
Long-term debt, less current maturities
Note payable to JBS USA Holdings, Inc.
Intercompany payable	49,935	73,566
Deferred tax liabilities	297	297
Other long-term liabilities	3,231	3,245
Total liabilities	99,532	160,319
Total Pilgrim's Pride Corporation stockholders' equity	486,061	400,276
Noncontrolling interest	2,784	2,626
Total stockholders' equity	488,845	402,902
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 588,377	$ 563,221