INVENTORIES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 27, 2015	Dec. 28, 2014
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories	$ 841,273	$ 790,305
Live Chicken and Hens [Member]
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories	395,860	363,438
Feed, Eggs and Other [Member]
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories	216,034	198,681
Finished Chicken Products [Member]
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories	225,735	227,649
Chicken Inventories [Member]
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories	837,629	789,768
Commercial Feed and Other [Member]
Inventory [Line Items]
Total inventories	$ 3,644	$ 537