CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2015	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 27, 2015	Sep. 28, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,112,529	$ 2,268,048	$ 6,219,324	$ 6,472,929
Cost of sales	1,827,985	1,817,783	5,125,640	5,458,083
Gross profit	284,544	450,265	1,093,684	1,014,846
Selling, general and administrative expense	52,620	44,629	150,961	138,437
Administrative restructuring charges	792	135	5,605	2,286
Operating income	231,132	405,501	937,118	874,123
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	10,501	11,372	26,870	45,407
Interest income	(319)	(1,171)	(3,086)	(2,974)
Foreign currency transaction loss	12,773	6,414	23,806	4,932
Miscellaneous, net	(2,071)	(610)	(7,135)	(2,609)
Income before income taxes	210,248	389,496	896,663	829,367
Income tax expense	73,153	133,693	313,751	284,932
Net income	137,095	255,803	582,912	544,435
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	33	(181)	146	(26)
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	$ 137,062	$ 255,984	$ 582,766	$ 544,461
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	259,280	258,999	259,540	258,966
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)	223	523	225	482
Diluted (in shares)	259,503	259,522	259,765	259,448
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation per share of common stock outstanding:
Basic (usd per share)	$ 0.53	$ 0.99	$ 2.25	$ 2.10
Diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.53	$ 0.99	$ 2.24	$ 2.10