Long-Term Debt (Schedule Of Indebtedness) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 8,558,783	$ 8,527,929
8.125% Senior Notes Due September 15, 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	458,040	457,723
Interest rate	8.125%	8.125%
Maturity date	Sep. 15, 2015	Sep. 15, 2015
Principal	458,641	458,641
5.50% Senior Notes due October 18, 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	740,953	740,748
Interest rate	5.50%	5.50%
Maturity date	Oct. 18, 2023	Oct. 18, 2023
Principal	750,000	750,000
6.625% Senior Notes due October 23, 2043 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	247,000	246,991
Interest rate	6.625%	6.625%
Maturity date	Oct. 23, 2043	Oct. 23, 2043
Principal	250,000	250,000
3.75% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes Due April 15, 2014 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			3.75%
3.875% Senior Notes, due November 9, 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	505,851	507,944
Interest rate	3.875%	3.875%
Maturity date	Nov. 09, 2015	Nov. 09, 2015
Principal	500,000	500,000
5.5% Senior Notes, due March 15, 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	360,702	363,229
Interest rate	5.50%	5.50%
Maturity date	Mar. 15, 2016	Mar. 15, 2016
Principal	350,000	350,000
5.125% Senior Notes, due April 13, 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	839,383	842,359
Interest rate	5.125%	5.125%
Maturity date	Apr. 13, 2018	Apr. 13, 2018
Principal	800,000	800,000
8.5% Senior Notes, due July 15, 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	826,229	832,797
Interest rate	8.50%	8.50%
Maturity date	Jul. 15, 2019	Jul. 15, 2019
Principal	700,000	700,000
2.375% Euro Senior Notes, due May 20, 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	558,601	620,725
Interest rate	2.375%	2.375%
Maturity date	May 20, 2020	May 20, 2020
Principal	559,850
6.875% Senior Notes, due April 15, 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	849,568	853,091
Interest rate	6.875%	6.875%
Maturity date	Apr. 15, 2021	Apr. 15, 2021
Principal	750,000	750,000
2.25% Euro Medium Term Notes, due July 13, 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	3,956	4,379
Interest rate	2.25%	2.25%
Maturity date	Jul. 13, 2022	Jul. 13, 2022
Principal	4,479
5.125% Senior Notes, due January 20, 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	622,716	623,311
Interest rate	5.125%	5.125%
Maturity date	Jan. 20, 2023	Jan. 20, 2023
Principal	600,000	600,000
6.45% Senior Debentures, due June 8, 2027 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	381,073	381,515
Interest rate	6.45%	6.45%
Maturity date	Jun. 08, 2027	Jun. 08, 2027
Principal	350,000	350,000
3.875% Convertible Senior Debentures, due November 1, 2029 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	348,276	348,568
Interest rate	3.875%	3.875%
Maturity date	Nov. 01, 2029	Nov. 01, 2029
Principal	345,000	345,000
6.25% Senior Debentures, due January 15, 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	512,969	513,046
Interest rate	6.25%	6.25%
Maturity date	Jan. 15, 2036	Jan. 15, 2036
Principal	500,000	500,000
6.50% Senior Notes, due January 20, 2043 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	421,885	421,960
Interest rate	6.50%	6.50%
Maturity date	Jan. 20, 2043	Jan. 20, 2043
Principal	400,000	400,000
Secured credit facility, due June 26, 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	205,000	170,000
Maturity date	Jun. 26, 2017	Jun. 26, 2017
Other [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	158,415	119,399
National Beef [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	181,916	135,144
Interest rate	2.90%
National Beef [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	336,250	345,000
Interest rate	2.90%
Parent Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	1,445,993	1,445,462
Subsidiary [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 7,112,790	$ 7,082,467