CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 27, 2015	Dec. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 8,180,104	$ 8,583,365	$ 8,411,148
Cost of sales	6,925,727	7,189,370	7,565,709
Gross profit	1,254,377	1,393,995	845,439
Selling, general and administrative expense	203,881	188,594	180,915
Administrative restructuring charges	5,605	2,286	5,661
Operating income	1,044,891	1,203,115	658,863
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	37,548	82,097	87,006
Interest income	(3,673)	(4,826)	(2,125)
Foreign currency transaction losses	25,940	27,979	4,415
Miscellaneous, net	(7,682)	(4,526)	(4,373)
Income before income taxes	992,758	1,102,391	573,940
Income tax expense	346,796	390,953	24,227
Net income	645,962	711,438	549,713
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	48	(210)	158
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	$ 645,914	$ 711,648	$ 549,555
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	258,442	258,974	258,826
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)	234	497	415
Diluted (in shares)	258,676	259,471	259,241
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation per share of common stock outstanding:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.50	$ 2.75	$ 2.12
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.50	$ 2.74	$ 2.12