CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 27, 2015	Dec. 28, 2014
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 439,638	$ 576,143
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	348,994	378,890
Accounts receivable from related parties	2,668	5,250
Inventories	801,357	790,305
Income taxes receivable	71,410	10,288
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	75,602	95,439
Assets held for sale	6,555	1,419
Total current assets	1,746,224	1,857,734
Other long-lived assets	15,672	24,406
Identified intangible assets, net	47,453	26,783
Goodwill	156,565	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,352,529	1,182,795
Total assets	3,318,443	3,091,718
Notes payable to banks	28,726	0
Accounts payable	482,954	399,486
Accounts payable to related parties	7,000	4,862
Accrued expenses	314,966	311,879
Income taxes payable	13,228	3,068
Current maturities of long-term debt	86	262
Total current liabilities	846,960	719,557
Long-term debt, less current maturities	985,509	3,980
Deferred tax liabilities	131,882	74,172
Other long-term liabilities	92,282	97,208
Total liabilities	$ 2,056,633	$ 894,917
Commitments and contingencies
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued	$ 0	$ 0
Common stock, $.01 par value, 800,000,000 shares authorized; 259,685,145 and 259,029,033 shares issued at year-end 2015 and year-end 2014, respectively; 254,823,286 and 259,029,033 shares outstanding at year-end 2015 and year-end 2014, respectively	2,597	2,590
Treasury stock, at cost, 4,861,859 shares at year-end 2015	(99,233)	0
Additional paid-in capital	1,675,674	1,662,354
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	(261,252)	591,492
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(58,930)	(62,541)
Total Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation stockholders’ equity	1,258,856	2,193,895
Noncontrolling interest	2,954	2,906
Total stockholders’ equity	1,261,810	2,196,801
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 3,318,443	$ 3,091,718