SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 2,018,065	$ 2,036,929
Cost of sales	1,802,959	1,918,495
Gross profit	215,106	118,434
Selling, general and administrative expense	45,201	43,992
Administrative restructuring charges	1,713	484
Operating income	168,192	73,958
Interest expense, net	19,473	24,821
Interest income	(811)	(216)
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)	337	(7,624)
Miscellaneous, net	(1,006)	(5)
Income before income taxes	150,199	56,982
Income tax expense	52,012	2,754
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	98,187	54,228
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries
Net income	98,187	54,228
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	70	(354)
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	98,117	54,582
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	(105,548)	(67,724)
Cost of sales	(105,548)	(67,724)
Gross profit
Selling, general and administrative expense
Administrative restructuring charges
Operating income
Interest expense, net
Interest income
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)
Miscellaneous, net	68	(41)
Income before income taxes	(68)	41
Income tax expense
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	(68)	41
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	(31,759)	(44,638)
Net income	(31,827)	(44,597)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	(31,827)	(44,597)
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	1,753,068	1,769,794
Cost of sales	1,597,091	1,704,798
Gross profit	155,977	64,996
Selling, general and administrative expense	38,575	37,484
Administrative restructuring charges	1,713	484
Operating income	115,689	27,028
Interest expense, net	19,325	24,683
Interest income	(162)	(3)
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)	3	(10)
Miscellaneous, net	(2,641)	(1,715)
Income before income taxes	99,164	4,073
Income tax expense	32,806	(5,871)
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	66,358	9,944
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	31,759	44,638
Net income	98,117	54,582
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	98,117	54,582
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	112,550	75,660
Cost of sales	98,853	66,934
Gross profit	13,697	8,726
Selling, general and administrative expense	1,238	1,008
Administrative restructuring charges
Operating income	12,459	7,718
Interest expense, net	(14)
Interest income
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)
Miscellaneous, net	1,645	1,221
Income before income taxes	10,828	6,497
Income tax expense	5,764	1,969
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	5,064	4,528
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries
Net income	5,064	4,528
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	5,064	4,528
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	257,995	259,199
Cost of sales	212,563	214,487
Gross profit	45,432	44,712
Selling, general and administrative expense	5,388	5,500
Administrative restructuring charges
Operating income	40,044	39,212
Interest expense, net	162	138
Interest income	(649)	(213)
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)	334	(7,614)
Miscellaneous, net	(78)	530
Income before income taxes	40,275	46,371
Income tax expense	13,442	6,656
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	26,833	39,715
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries
Net income	26,833	39,715
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	70	(354)
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	$ 26,763	$ 40,069