CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 27, 2015	Dec. 28, 2014
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 396,719	$ 576,143
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	369,681	378,890
Account receivable from related parties	2,581	5,250
Inventories	841,273	790,305
Income taxes receivable	4,971	10,288
Current deferred tax assets	37,561	27,345
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	96,857	95,439
Assets held for sale	6,555	1,419
Total current assets	1,756,198	1,885,079
Other long-lived assets	31,813	24,406
Identified intangible assets, net	32,177	26,783
Goodwill	174,431	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,347,239	1,182,795
Total assets	3,341,858	3,119,063
Notes payable to banks	5,869	0
Accounts payable	524,025	399,486
Account payable to related parties	10,402	4,862
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	304,459	311,879
Income taxes payable	20,874	3,068
Current deferred tax liabilities	40,368	25,301
Current maturities of long-term debt	102	262
Total current liabilities	906,099	744,858
Long-term debt, less current maturities	1,000,398	3,980
Deferred tax liabilities	89,589	76,216
Other long-term liabilities	103,104	97,208
Total liabilities	2,099,190	922,262
Common stock	2,597	2,590
Treasury stock	(45,080)	0
Additional paid-in capital	1,672,501	1,662,354
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	(324,400)	591,492
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(66,002)	(62,541)
Total Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation stockholders’ equity	1,239,616	2,193,895
Noncontrolling interest	3,052	2,906
Total stockholders’ equity	1,242,668	2,196,801
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 3,341,858	$ 3,119,063