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Average Trading Price Minimum Per One Thousand Dollars

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Consecutive Trading Days Consider for Debt

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Contingent interest rate percent.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Conversion price per common share for convertible notes

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Debt instrument convertible conversion price percentage.

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- Definition

Incremental principal amount of notes

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Revolving Credit Facility, Amount Available

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- Definition

Shares Issuable Upon Conversion per $1000 Debenture

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Trading days consider for lower range of stock price.

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Trading days consider for upper range of stock price.

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- Definition

Trading Period for Contingent Interest

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Trading price per debenture related to common stock, maximum

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- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, including current and noncurrent amounts. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date, including the current and noncurrent portions, of collateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer). Such obligations include mortgage loans, chattel loans, and any other borrowings secured by assets of the borrower.

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Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Assets pledged for indebtedness	$ 1,600,000,000
Nonrecourse indebtedness collateralized by assets	777,100,000
Debt subject to mandatory redemption, 2016	485,100,000
Debt subject to mandatory redemption, 2017	468,400,000
Debt subject to mandatory redemption, 2018	1,282,400,000
Debt subject to mandatory redemption, 2019	809,100,000
Debt subject to mandatory redemption, 2020	548,100,000
Long-term debt	7,407,594,000	$ 8,527,929,000
National Beef [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate outstanding letters of credit	$ 19,800,000
54 Madison [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	6.00%
Long-term debt	$ 116,211,000	0
Foursight Capital [Member] \| Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Assets pledged for indebtedness	143,000,000
Credit facility term loan, maximum amount	175,000,000.0
Long-term debt	$ 110,253,000	$ 27,000,000
3.875% Convertible Senior Debentures, due November 1, 2029 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	3.875%	3.875%	3.875%
Incremental principal amount of notes	$ 1,000
Shares issuable upon conversion per $1000 debenture	22.4574
Conversion price per common share for convertible notes (USD per share)	$ 44.53
Common stock price as a percent of conversion price minimum	130.00%
Earliest period of conversion price	20 days
Consecutive trading days	30 days
Trading price per debenture related to common stock, maximum	95.00%
Consecutive trading days	10 days
Contingent interest rate percent	0.375%
Trading period for contingent interest	5 days
Minimum average trading price for 5 trading days per $1,000 debenture	$ 1,200
Long-term debt	$ 347,307,000	$ 348,568,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| National Beef [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	3.00%
Credit facility term loan, maximum amount	$ 375,000,000.0
Long-term debt	121,961,000	135,144,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| National Beef [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of revolver available	$ 109,900,000
Jefferies Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility term loan, maximum amount		750,000,000.0
Term Loan [Member] \| National Beef [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	3.00%
Credit facility term loan, maximum amount	$ 375,000,000.0
Long-term debt	310,000,000	$ 345,000,000
Term Loan [Member] \| 54 Madison [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 115,700,000
Revolving Credit Facility And Term Loan [Member] \| National Beef [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage added to base rate or LIBOR rate	0.75%
Revolving Credit Facility And Term Loan [Member] \| National Beef [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage added to base rate or LIBOR rate	2.75%
March 2016 Credit Facility [Member] \| Foursight Capital [Member] \| Credit Facility [Member] \| LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage added to base rate or LIBOR rate	1.75%
December 2018 Credit Facility [Member] \| Foursight Capital [Member] \| Credit Facility [Member] \| LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage added to base rate or LIBOR rate	2.15%