Pilgrim's Pride (PPC) 10-Q 30 Oct 14 2014 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014	Oct. 29, 2014
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	28-Sep-14	'
Entity Registrant Name	'PILGRIMS PRIDE CORP	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000802481	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-28	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	259,029,033

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Sep. 28, 2014		Dec. 29, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]	'		'
Cash and cash equivalents	$868,597		$508,206
Investment in available-for-sale securities	0		96,902
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	413,402		376,678
Account receivable from JBS USA, LLC	240		2,388
Inventories	817,892		808,832
Income taxes receivable	0		64,868
Current deferred tax assets	2,227		2,227
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	77,393		61,848
Assets held for sale	1,419		7,033
Total current assets	2,181,170		1,928,982
Deferred tax assets	85,213		18,921
Other long-lived assets	30,766		40,163
Identified intangible assets, net	28,219		32,525
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,180,414		1,151,811
Total assets	3,505,782		3,172,402
Accounts payable	383,779		370,360
Account payable to JBS USA, LLC	1,969		3,934
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	307,153		283,355
Income taxes payable	176,153		0
Current deferred tax liabilities	15,070		15,515
Current maturities of long-term debt	260		410,234
Total current liabilities	884,384		1,083,398
Long-term debt, less current maturities	502,115		501,999
Deferred tax liabilities	0		13,944
Other long-term liabilities	88,490		80,459
Total liabilities	1,474,989		1,679,800
Common stock	2,590		2,590
Additional paid-in capital	1,656,623		1,653,119
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	424,305		-120,156
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-55,815	[1]	-45,735	[1]
Total Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation stockholders’ equity	2,027,703		1,489,818
Noncontrolling interest	3,090		2,784
Total stockholders’ equity	2,030,793		1,492,602
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$3,505,782		$3,172,402
[1]	All amounts are net of tax. Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to accumulated other comprehensive loss.

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Net sales	$2,268,048	$2,142,815	$6,472,929	$6,363,863
Cost of sales	1,817,783	1,906,242	5,458,083	5,726,348
Gross profit	450,265	236,573	1,014,846	637,515
Selling, general and administrative expense	44,629	43,797	138,437	131,888
Administrative restructuring charges	135	3,658	2,286	4,622
Operating income	405,501	189,118	874,123	501,005
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	11,372	20,413	45,407	68,199
Interest income	-1,171	-571	-2,974	-1,494
Foreign currency transaction loss	6,414	2,682	4,932	4,771
Miscellaneous, net	-610	-8	-2,609	-730
Income before income taxes	389,496	166,602	829,367	430,259
Income tax expense	133,693	5,578	284,932	24,216
Net income	255,803	161,024	544,435	406,043
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	-181	107	-26	-161
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	$255,984	$160,917	$544,461	$406,204
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:	'	'	'	'
Basic (in shares)	258,999	258,826	258,966	258,825
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)	523	560	482	341
Diluted (in shares)	259,522	259,386	259,448	259,166
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation per share of common stock outstanding:	'	'	'	'
Basic (usd per share)	$0.99	$0.62	$2.10	$1.57
Diluted (usd per share)	$0.99	$0.62	$2.10	$1.57

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014		Sep. 29, 2013
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'		'
Net income	$255,803	$161,024	$544,435		$406,043
Other comprehensive income:	'	'	'		'
Gain (loss) associated with available-for-sale securities, net of tax expense of $(10), $0, $(30) and $0, respectively	17	0	-12		0
Gain (loss) associated with pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax benefit of $396, $0, $6,105 and $0, respectively	-653	313	-10,068		36,114
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-636	313	-10,080	[1]	36,114
Comprehensive income	255,167	161,337	534,355		442,157
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	-181	107	-26		-161
Comprehensive income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	$255,348	$161,230	$534,381		$442,318
[1]	All amounts are net of tax. Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to accumulated other comprehensive loss.

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME2

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) associated with available-for-sale securities, tax	($10)	$0	($30)	$0
Gain (loss) associated with pension and other postretirement benefits, tax	$396	$0	$6,105	$0

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME3

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $)	Total		Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Balance at Dec. 30, 2012	$908,997		$2,590	$1,642,003	($669,711)	($68,511)	$2,626
Balance, shares at Dec. 30, 2012	'		258,999	'	'	'	'
Net income	406,043		'	'	406,204	'	-161
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	36,114		'	'	'	36,114	'
Share-based compensation plans:	'		'	'	'	'	'
Common stock issued under compensation plans	0		'	'	'	'	'
Common stock issued under compensation plans (in shares)	'		30	'	'	'	'
Requisite service period recognition	2,415		'	2,415	'	'	'
Balance at Sep. 29, 2013	1,353,569		2,590	1,644,418	-263,507	-32,397	2,465
Balance, shares at Sep. 29, 2013	'		259,029	'	'	'	'
Balance at Dec. 29, 2013	1,492,602		2,590	1,653,119	-120,156	-45,735	2,784
Balance, shares at Dec. 29, 2013	'		259,029	'	'	'	'
Net income	544,435		'	'	544,461	'	-26
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	-10,080	[1]	'	'	'	-10,080	'
Issuance of subsidiary common stock	332		'	'	'	'	332
Share-based compensation plans:	'		'	'	'	'	'
Requisite service period recognition	3,504		'	3,504	'	'	'
Balance at Sep. 28, 2014	$2,030,793		$2,590	$1,656,623	$424,305	($55,815)	$3,090
Balance, shares at Sep. 28, 2014	'		259,029	'	'	'	'
[1]	All amounts are net of tax. Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to accumulated other comprehensive loss.

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME4

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Net income	$544,435	$406,043
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	112,740	113,853
Foreign currency transaction loss	8,585	3,734
Accretion of bond discount	342	342
Asset impairment	0	3,457
Gain on property disposals	-1,112	-509
Gain on investment securities	-49	0
Share-based compensation	3,504	2,415
Deferred income tax benefit	-79,619	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:	'	'
Trade accounts and other receivables	-35,785	-25,458
Inventories	-10,339	39,421
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	-16,694	-17,304
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities	36,686	69,895
Income taxes	239,944	-1,818
Deposits	0	1,898
Long-term pension and other postretirement obligations	-1,764	-3,174
Other operating assets and liabilities	1,534	3,921
Cash provided by operating activities	802,408	596,716
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment	-131,349	-76,293
Purchases of investment securities	-55,100	0
Proceeds from sale or maturity of investment securities	152,050	0
Proceeds from property disposals	8,422	3,330
Cash used in investing activities	-25,977	-72,963
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Proceeds from revolving line of credit	0	505,600
Payments on revolving line of credit, long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations	-410,199	-758,283
Sale of subsidiary common stock	332	0
Payment of capitalized loan costs	0	-5,006
Cash used in financing activities	-409,867	-257,689
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	-6,173	-3,928
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	360,391	262,136
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	508,206	68,180
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$868,597	$330,316

DESCRIPTION_OF_BUSINESS_AND_BA

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION	'
	DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
	Business
	Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation (referred to herein as “Pilgrim’s,” “PPC,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or similar terms) is one of the largest chicken producers in the world, with operations in the United States (“U.S.”), Mexico and Puerto Rico. Pilgrim's products are sold to foodservice, retail and frozen entrée customers. The Company's primary distribution is through retailers, foodservice distributors and restaurants throughout the United States and Puerto Rico and in the northern and central regions of Mexico. Additionally, the Company exports chicken products to approximately 80 countries. Pilgrim's fresh chicken products consist of refrigerated (nonfrozen) whole chickens, whole cut-up chickens and selected chicken parts that are either marinated or non-marinated. The Company's prepared chicken products include fully cooked, ready-to-cook and individually frozen chicken parts, strips, nuggets and patties, some of which are either breaded or non-breaded and either marinated or non-marinated. As a vertically integrated company, we control every phase of the production of our products. We operate feed mills, hatcheries, processing plants and distribution centers in 12 U.S. states, Puerto Rico and Mexico. Pilgrim's has approximately 35,400 employees and has the capacity to process more than 34 million birds per week for a total of more than 10 billion pounds of live chicken annually. Approximately 3,750 contract growers supply poultry for the Company's operations. As of September 28, 2014, JBS USA Holdings, Inc. (“JBS USA”), an indirect subsidiary of Brazil-based JBS S.A., beneficially owned 75.5% of the Company's outstanding common stock.
	Consolidated Financial Statements
	The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal and recurring adjustments unless otherwise disclosed) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 28, 2014. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2013.
	Pilgrim’s operates on a 52/53-week fiscal year that ends on the Sunday falling on or before December 31. The reader should assume any reference we make to a particular year (for example, 2014) in the notes to these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements applies to our fiscal year and not the calendar year.
	The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries. We eliminate all significant affiliate accounts and transactions upon consolidation.
	The Company measures the financial statements of its Mexico subsidiaries as if the U.S. dollar were the functional currency. Accordingly, we remeasure assets and liabilities, other than non-monetary assets, of the Mexico subsidiaries at current exchange rates. We remeasure non-monetary assets using the historical exchange rate in effect on the date of each asset’s acquisition. We remeasure income and expenses at average exchange rates in effect during the period. Currency exchange gains or losses are included in the line item Foreign currency transaction loss in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
	Reportable Segment
	We operate in one reportable business segment, as a producer and seller of chicken products we either produce or purchase for resale.
	Revenue Recognition
	We recognize revenue when all of the following circumstances are satisfied: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) price is fixed or determinable, (iii) collectability is reasonably assured and (iv) delivery has occurred. Delivery occurs in the period in which the customer takes title and assumes the risks and rewards of ownership of the products specified in the customer’s purchase order or sales agreement. Revenue is recorded net of estimated incentive offerings including special pricing agreements, promotions and other volume-based incentives. Revisions to these estimates are charged back to net sales in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known.
	Book Overdraft
	The majority of the Company's disbursement bank accounts are zero balance accounts where cash needs are funded as checks are presented for payment by the holder. Checks issued pending clearance that result in overdraft balances for accounting purposes are classified as accounts payable and the change in the related balance is reflected in operating activities on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new accounting guidance on revenue recognition, which provides for a single five-step model to be applied to all revenue contracts with customers. The new standard also requires additional financial statement disclosures that will enable users to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows relating to customer contracts. Companies have an option to use either a retrospective approach or cumulative effect adjustment approach to implement the standard. There is no option for early adoption. The provisions of the new guidance will be effective as of the beginning of our 2017 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected a transition approach to implement the standard.

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	'
	FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
	Fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value must be categorized into one of three different levels depending on the assumptions (i.e., inputs) used in the valuation:
	Level 1		Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
	Level 2		Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability; or
	Level 3		Unobservable inputs, such as discounted cash flow models or valuations.
	The determination of where assets and liabilities fall within this hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.
	As of September 28, 2014 and December 29, 2013, the Company held certain items that were required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. These included derivative assets and liabilities and deferred compensation plan assets. Derivative assets and liabilities consist of long and short positions on exchange-traded commodity futures instruments. The Company maintains nonqualified deferred compensation plans for executives and other highly compensated employees. Investments are maintained within a trust and include money market funds, mutual funds and life insurance policies. The cash surrender value of the life insurance policies is invested primarily in mutual funds. The following items were measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
			September 28, 2014
			Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
			(In thousands)
	Derivative assets - commodity futures instruments		$	5,125			$	—			$	—			$	5,125
	Derivative assets - commodity options instruments		—				62				—				62
	Derivative assets - foreign currency instruments		1,278				—				—				1,278
	Deferred compensation plan assets		7,218				—				—				7,218
	Derivative liabilities - commodity futures instruments		(5,350		)		—				—				(5,350		)
	Derivative liabilities - commodity options instruments		—				(1,013		)		—				(1,013		)
	Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements:
	Public bonds and notes		525,335				—				—				525,335
	Capitalized lease obligations		—				—				627				627
			December 29, 2013
			Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
			(In thousands)
	Short-term investments in available-for-sale securities		$	—			$	96,902			$	—			$	96,902
	Derivative assets - commodity futures instruments		1,494				—				—				1,494
	Derivative assets - commodity options instruments		—				1,395				—				1,395
	Derivative assets - foreign currency instruments		1,214				—				—				1,214
	Deferred compensation plan assets		7,208				—				—				7,208
	Derivative liabilities - commodity futures instruments		(1,728		)		—				—				(1,728		)
	Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements:
	Public bonds and notes		552,592				—				—				552,592
	Term notes		—				—				424,650				424,650
	Capitalized lease obligations		—				—				704				704
		Term Notes and Revolver								Capitalized Lease Obligations
		Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended								Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
		28-Sep-14				29-Sep-13				28-Sep-14				29-Sep-13
	Change in Value of Level 3 Liabilities:	(In thousands)
	Balance, beginning of period	$	424,650			$	686,435			$	704			$	880
	Borrowings	—				509,500				—				—
	Payments	(410,099		)		(762,091		)		(100		)		(92		)
	Change in fair value inputs	(14,551		)		(6,983		)		23				—
	Balance, end of period	$	—			$	426,861			$	627			$	788
	The valuation of financial assets and liabilities classified in Level 1 is determined using a market approach, taking into account current interest rates, creditworthiness, and liquidity risks in relation to current market conditions, and is based upon unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets. The valuation of financial assets and liabilities in Level 2 is determined using a market approach based upon quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or other inputs that are observable for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. The valuation of financial assets in Level 3 is determined using an income approach based on unobservable inputs such as discounted cash flow models or valuations.
	In addition to the fair value disclosure requirements related to financial instruments carried at fair value, accounting standards require interim disclosures regarding the fair value of all of the Company’s financial instruments. The methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments and any changes in methods or significant assumptions from prior periods are also required to be disclosed. The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of financial assets and liabilities recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets consisted of the following:
			28-Sep-14								December 29, 2013
			Carrying				Fair				Carrying				Fair			Note Reference
			Amount				Value				Amount				Value
							(In thousands)
	Short-term investments in available-for-sale securities		$	—			$	—			$	96,902			$	96,902		5
	Derivative assets - commodity futures instruments		5,125				5,125				1,494				1,494			6
	Derivative assets - commodity options instruments		62				62				1,395				1,395			6
	Derivative assets - foreign currency instruments		1,278				1,278				1,214				1,214			6
	Deferred compensation plan assets		7,218				7,218				7,208				7,208
	Derivative liabilities - commodity futures instruments		(5,350		)		(5,350		)		(1,728		)		(1,728		)	6
	Derivative liabilities - commodity options instruments		(1,013		)		(1,013		)		—				—			6
	Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements		(502,376		)		(525,962		)		(912,233		)		(977,946		)	9
	Derivative assets were recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices and are included in the line item Prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Deferred compensation plan assets were recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices and are included in the line item Other assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Derivative liabilities were recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices and are included in the line item Accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The fair values of the Company’s long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements were estimated by calculating the net present value of future payments for each debt obligation or borrowing by: (i) using a risk-free rate applicable for an instrument with a life similar to the remaining life of each debt obligation or borrowing plus the current estimated credit risk spread for the Company or (ii) using the quoted market price at September 28, 2014 or December 29, 2013, as applicable.
	In addition to assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company records certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Generally, assets are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as a result of impairment charges when required by U.S. GAAP. There were no significant fair value measurement losses recognized for such assets and liabilities in the periods reported.

TRADE_ACCOUNTS_AND_OTHER_RECEI

TRADE ACCOUNTS AND OTHER RECEIVABLES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Accounts Receivable, Net [Abstract]	'
TRADE ACCOUNTS AND OTHER RECEIVABLES	'
	TRADE ACCOUNTS AND OTHER RECEIVABLES
	Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts, consisted of the following:
		September 28, 2014			29-Dec-13
		(In thousands)
	Trade accounts receivable	$	405,520		$	369,715
	Account receivable from JBS USA, LLC	240			2,388
	Employee receivables	—			14
	Notes receivable - current	1,145			—
	Other receivables	9,467			11,005
	Receivables, gross	416,372			383,122
	Allowance for doubtful accounts	(2,730		)	(4,056		)
	Receivables, net	$	413,642		$	379,066

INVENTORIES

INVENTORIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
INVENTORIES	'
	INVENTORIES
	Inventories consisted of the following:
		September 28, 2014		December 29, 2013
		(In thousands)
	Live chicken and hens	$	384,120	$	368,582
	Feed, eggs and other	213,035		216,045
	Finished chicken products	220,157		223,932
	Total chicken inventories	817,312		808,559
	Commercial feed and other	580		273
	Total inventories	$	817,892	$	808,832

INVESTMENTS_IN_SECURITIES

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]	'
INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES	'
	INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES
	We recognize investments in available-for-sale securities as cash equivalents, current investments or long-term investments depending upon each security's length to maturity. Additionally, those securities identified by management at the time of purchase for funding operations in less than one year are classified as current.
	The following table summarizes our investments in available-for-sale securities:
		September 28, 2014				December 29, 2013
		Amortized Cost		Fair		Amortized Cost		Fair
				Value				Value
		(In thousands)
	Cash equivalents:
	Fixed income securities	$	433,413	$	433,413	$	103,121	$	103,124
	Other	19,577		19,577		56		56
	Short-term investments:
	Fixed income securities	$	—	$	—	$	96,902	$	96,902
	All of the fixed income securities classified as cash and cash equivalents above mature within 90 days and all of the fixed income securities classified as short-term investments above mature within one year. The specific identification method is used to determine the cost of each security sold and each amount reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss to earnings. Gross realized gains recognized during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 related to the Company's available-for-sale securities totaled approximately $0.1 million and $0.3 million, respectively. Gross realized losses recognized during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 related to the Company's available-for-sale securities totaled approximately $7,700 and $8,100, respectively. No gross realized gains or losses were recognized during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2013. Proceeds received from the sale or maturity of available-for-sale securities during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013 are disclosed in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Net unrealized holding gains and losses on the Company's available-for-sale securities recognized during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013 that have been included in accumulated other comprehensive loss and the net amount of gains and losses reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss to earnings during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013 are disclosed in “Note 12. Stockholders' Equity.”

DERIVATIVE_FINANCIAL_INSTRUMEN

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS	'
	DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
	The Company utilizes various raw materials in its operations, including corn, soybean meal, soybean oil, sorghum and energy, such as natural gas, electricity and diesel fuel, which are all considered commodities. The Company considers these raw materials generally available from a number of different sources and believes it can obtain them to meet its requirements. These commodities are subject to price fluctuations and related price risk due to factors beyond our control, such as economic and political conditions, supply and demand, weather, governmental regulation and other circumstances. Generally, the Company purchases derivative financial instruments, specifically exchange-traded futures and options, in an attempt to mitigate price risk related to its anticipated consumption of commodity inputs for approximately the next 12 months. The Company may purchase longer-term derivative financial instruments on particular commodities if deemed appropriate.
	The Company has operations in Mexico and, therefore, has exposure to translational foreign exchange risk when the financial results of those operations are translated to U.S. dollars. Generally, the Company purchases derivative financial instruments such as foreign currency forward contracts to manage this translational foreign exchange risk.
	The fair value of derivative assets is included in the line item Prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets while the fair value of derivative liabilities is included in the line item Accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the same statements. Our counterparties require that we post cash collateral for changes in the net fair value of the derivative contracts.
	We have not designated the derivative financial instruments that we have purchased to mitigate commodity purchase transaction exposures as cash flow hedges. Therefore, we recognized changes in the fair value of these derivative financial instruments immediately in earnings. Gains or losses related to these derivative financial instruments are included in the line item Cost of sales in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company recognized net gains of $28.0 million and $8.0 million related to changes in the fair value of its derivative financial instruments during the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013, respectively. We also recognized net gains of $14.0 million and $21.9 million related to changes in the fair value of our derivative financial instruments during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013, respectively. Information regarding the Company’s outstanding derivative instruments and cash collateral posted with (owed to) brokers is included in the following table:
		September 28, 2014			29-Dec-13
		(Fair values in thousands)
	Fair values:
	Commodity derivative assets	$	5,187		$	2,889
	Commodity derivative liabilities	(6,363		)	(1,728		)
	Cash collateral posted with brokers	8,040			4,142
	Foreign currency derivative assets	1,278			1,214
	Derivatives coverage(a):
	Corn	2		%	1.1		%
	Soybean meal	1.3		%	(3.6		)%
	Period through which stated percent of needs are covered:
	Corn	Jul-16			Sep-15
	Soybean meal	Jul-15			Jul-14
	(a)	Derivatives coverage is the percent of anticipated commodity needs covered by outstanding derivative instruments through a specified date.

PROPERTY_PLANT_AND_EQUIPMENT

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT	'
	PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
	Property, plant and equipment (“PP&E”), net consisted of the following:
		September 28, 2014			December 29, 2013
		(In thousands)
	Land	$	66,283		$	66,071
	Buildings	1,083,380			1,077,859
	Machinery and equipment	1,530,264			1,502,968
	Autos and trucks	55,083			55,779
	Construction-in-progress	130,229			66,926
	PP&E, gross	2,865,239			2,769,603
	Accumulated depreciation	(1,684,825		)	(1,617,792		)
	PP&E, net	$	1,180,414		$	1,151,811
	The Company recognized depreciation expense of $33.9 million and $34.3 million during the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013, respectively. We also recognized depreciation expense of $101.1 million and $102.3 million during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013, respectively.
	During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014, we spent $131.3 million on capital projects and transferred $67.3 million of completed projects from construction-in-progress to depreciable assets. Capital expenditures were primarily incurred during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 to improve efficiencies and reduce costs in the U.S. and to expand capacity in Mexico.
	During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014, the Company sold certain PP&E for cash of $4.1 million and $8.4 million, respectively, and recognized a net loss of $26,700 and a net gain of $1.1 million, respectively. PP&E sold in 2014 included a warehouse, a commercial building and a vehicle maintenance center in Texas, an office building in Mexico City, a processing plant in Franconia, Pennsylvania, and miscellaneous equipment. During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2013, the Company sold certain PP&E for cash of $0.4 million and $3.3 million, respectively, and recognized net gains on these sales of $0.1 million and $2.0 million, respectively. PP&E sold in 2013 included vehicle maintenance centers in Arkansas and Texas and miscellaneous equipment.
	Management has committed to the sale of certain properties and related assets, including, but not limited to, a processing plant in Louisiana and other miscellaneous assets, which no longer fit into the operating plans of the Company. The Company is actively marketing these properties and related assets for immediate sale and believes a sale of each property can be consummated within the next 12 months. At September 28, 2014 and December 29, 2013, the Company reported properties and related assets totaling $1.4 million and $7.0 million, respectively, in the line item Assets held for sale on its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company tested the recoverability of its assets held for sale and determined that the aggregate carrying amount of each asset group was recoverable over the remaining life of the primary asset in that asset group.
	The Company has closed or idled various processing complexes, processing plants, hatcheries, broiler farms, and feed mills throughout the U.S. Neither the Board of Directors nor JBS USA has determined if it would be in the best interest of the Company to divest any of these idled assets. Management is therefore not certain that it can or will divest any of these assets within one year, is not actively marketing these assets and, accordingly, has not classified them as assets held for sale. The Company continues to depreciate these assets. At September 28, 2014, the carrying amount of these idled assets was $73.0 million based on depreciable value of $184.6 million and accumulated depreciation of $111.6 million.
	The Company last tested the recoverability of its long-lived assets held and used in December 2013. At that time, the Company determined that the carrying amount of its long-lived assets held and used was recoverable over the remaining life of the primary asset in the group and that long-lived assets held and used passed the Step 1 recoverability test under ASC 360-10-35, Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. There were no indicators present during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 that required the Company to test its long-lived assets held and used for recoverability.

CURRENT_LIABILITIES

CURRENT LIABILITIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]	'
CURRENT LIABILITIES	'
	CURRENT LIABILITIES
	Current liabilities, other than income taxes and current maturities of long-term debt, consisted of the following components:
		September 28, 2014		December 29, 2013
		(In thousands)
	Accounts payable:
	Trade accounts	$	331,832	$	313,266
	Book overdrafts	50,045		55,378
	Other payables	1,902		1,716
	Total accounts payable	383,779		370,360
	Accounts payable to JBS USA, LLC	1,969		3,934
	Accrued expenses and other current liabilities:
	Compensation and benefits	106,329		100,965
	Interest and debt-related fees	12,094		7,558
	Insurance and self-insured claims	88,679		99,244
	Derivative liabilities:
	Futures	5,350		1,729
	Options	1,012		—
	Other accrued expenses	93,689		73,859
	Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities	307,153		283,355
		$	692,901	$	657,649

LONGTERM_DEBT_AND_OTHER_BORROW

LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER BORROWING ARRANGEMENTS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER BORROWING ARRANGEMENTS	'
	LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER BORROWING ARRANGEMENTS
	Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements consisted of the following components:
		Maturity	September 28, 2014			December 29, 2013
			(In thousands)
	Senior notes, at 7 7/8%, net of unaccreted discount	2018	$	498,098		$	497,757
	U.S. Credit Facility (defined below):
	The U.S. Credit Facility Term B-1 note payable at	2014	—			204,880
	2.44%
	The U.S. Credit Facility Term B-2 note payable at	2014	—			205,219
	9.00%
	Other	Various	4,277			4,377
	Long-term debt		502,375			912,233
	Less: Current maturities of long-term debt		(260		)	(410,234		)
	Long-term debt, less current maturities		$	502,115		$	501,999
	Senior and Subordinated Notes
	At September 28, 2014, the Company had an aggregate principal balance of $500.0 million of 7 7/8% senior unsecured notes due 2018 (the “2018 Notes”) outstanding that are registered under the Securities Act of 1933. The 2018 Notes are unsecured obligations of the Company and are guaranteed by one of the Company’s subsidiaries. Interest is payable on December 15 and June 15 of each year, commencing on June 15, 2011. Additionally, the Company had an aggregate principal balance of $3.6 million of 7 5/8% senior unsecured notes due 2015 and 8 3/8% senior subordinated unsecured notes due 2017 outstanding at September 28, 2014.
	On June 23, 2011, the Company entered into a Subordinated Loan Agreement with JBS USA (the “Subordinated Loan Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the Subordinated Loan Agreement, the Company agreed to reimburse JBS USA up to $56.5 million for draws upon any letters of credit issued for JBS USA's account that support certain obligations of the Company or its subsidiaries. JBS USA agreed to arrange for letters of credit to be issued on its account in the amount of $56.5 million to an insurance company serving the Company in order to allow that insurance company to return cash it held as collateral against potential workers compensation, auto and general liability claims. In return for providing this letter of credit, the Company has agreed to reimburse JBS USA for the letter of credit cost the Company would otherwise incur under its U.S. Credit Facility (as defined below). In the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014, the Company reimbursed JBS USA $0.3 million and $1.0 million, respectively, for letter of credit costs. As of September 28, 2014, the Company has accrued an obligation of $0.1 million to reimburse JBS USA for letter of credit costs incurred on its behalf. There remains no other commitment to make advances by JBS USA under the Subordinated Loan Agreement.
	U.S. Credit Facility
	Pilgrim’s and certain of its subsidiaries entered into a credit agreement (the “U.S. Credit Facility”) with CoBank, ACB, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and other lenders party thereto, which was amended and restated on August 7, 2013. As of September 28, 2014, the U.S. Credit Facility provided for a $700.0 million revolving credit facility and a delayed draw term loan commitment of up to $400 million (the “Delayed Draw Term Loans”). The Company can draw upon the Delayed Draw Term Loan commitment in one or more advances until December 28, 2014. The U.S. Credit Facility also includes an accordion feature that allows us, at any time, to increase the aggregate revolving loan commitment by up to an additional $250.0 million and to increase the aggregate Delayed Draw Term Loan commitment by up to an additional $500.0 million, in each case subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including obtaining the lenders’ agreement to participate in the increase and an aggregate limit on all commitments under the U.S. Credit Facility of $1.85 billion. The U.S. Credit Facility also provides for a $100 million sub-limit for swingline loans and a $200 million sub-limit for letters of credit. The revolving loan commitment under the U.S. Credit Facility matures on August 7, 2018. Any Delayed Draw Term Loans would be payable in quarterly installments beginning in fiscal year 2015 equal to 1.875% of the principal outstanding as of December 28, 2014, with all remaining principal and interest due at maturity on August 7, 2018.
	On December 28, 2009, the Company paid loan costs totaling $50.0 million related to the U.S. Credit Facility that it recognized as an asset on its balance sheet. On August 7, 2013, the Company paid loan costs totaling $5.0 million related to the amendment and restatement to the U.S. Credit Facility that is recognized as an asset on its balance sheet. The Company amortizes these capitalized costs to interest expense over the life of the U.S. Credit Facility.
	Subsequent to the end of each fiscal year, a portion of our cash flow was required to be used to repay outstanding principal amounts under the Term B loans. With respect to 2013, the Company paid $204.9 million of its cash flow toward the outstanding principal under the Term B-1 loans on December 30, 2013 and paid $205.2 million of its cash flow toward the outstanding principal under the Term B-2 loans on April 28, 2014. Following the April 28, 2014 payment, the Company had no outstanding principal under the Term B loans. The U.S. Credit Facility also requires us to use the proceeds we receive from certain asset sales and specified debt or equity issuances and upon the occurrence of other events to repay outstanding borrowings under the U.S. Credit Facility.
	Actual borrowings by the Company under the revolving credit commitment component of the U.S. Credit Facility are subject to a borrowing base, which is a formula based on certain eligible inventory, eligible receivables and restricted cash under the control of CoBank ACB. As of September 28, 2014, the amount available for borrowing under the revolving loan commitment was $679.9 million. The Company had letters of credit of $20.1 million and no outstanding borrowings under the revolving loan commitment as of September 28, 2014.
	The U.S. Credit Facility contains financial covenants and various other covenants that may adversely affect our ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, incur liens, pay dividends or make certain restricted payments, consummate certain assets sales, enter into certain transactions with JBS USA and our other affiliates, merge, consolidate and/or sell or dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. The U.S. Credit Facility requires the Company to comply with a minimum level of tangible net worth covenant. The Company is currently in compliance with this financial covenant. All other financial covenants were eliminated in connection with the August 7, 2013 amendment and restatement to the U.S. Credit Facility. The U.S. Credit Facility also provides that the Company may not incur capital expenditures in excess of $350.0 million in any fiscal year.
	All obligations under the U.S. Credit Facility are unconditionally guaranteed by certain of the Company’s subsidiaries and are secured by a first priority lien on (i) the accounts receivable and inventories of the Company and its non-Mexico subsidiaries, (ii) 65% of the equity interests in the Company’s direct foreign subsidiaries and 100% of the equity interests in the Company’s other subsidiaries, (iii) substantially all of the personal property and intangibles of the borrowers and guarantors under the U.S. Credit Facility and (iv) substantially all of the real estate and fixed assets of the Company and the guarantor subsidiaries under the U.S. Credit Facility.
	Mexico Credit Facility
	On July 23, 2014, Avícola and certain Mexican subsidiaries entered into an unsecured credit agreement (the “Mexico Credit Facility”) with BBVA Bancomer, S.A. Institución de Banca Multiple, Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer, as lender. The loan commitment under the Mexico Credit Facility is 560.0 million Mexican pesos. Outstanding borrowings under the Mexico Credit Facility will accrue interest at a rate equal to the TIIE rate plus 1.05%. The Mexico Credit Facility will mature on July 23, 2017. As of September 28, 2014, the U.S. dollar-equivalent of the loan commitment under the Mexico Credit Facility was $41.7 million. There are currently no outstanding borrowings under the Mexico Credit Facility. The Mexico Credit facility replaced our amended and restated credit agreement with ING Bank (México), S.A. Institucíon de Banca Múltiple, ING Grupo Financiero, as lender and ING Capital LLC, as administrative agent, which was terminated on July 23, 2014.

INCOME_TAXES

INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
INCOME TAXES	'
	INCOME TAXES
	The Company recorded income tax expense of $284.9 million, a 34.4% effective tax rate, for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 compared to income tax expense of $24.2 million, a 5.6% effective tax rate, for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2013. The income tax expense recognized for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 was primarily the result of the tax expense recorded on the Company's year-to-date income. The income tax expense recognized for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2013 was primarily the result of the tax expense recorded on the company's year-to-date income offset by a decrease in valuation allowance as a result of year-to-date earnings.
	In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities (including the impact of available carry back and carry forward periods), projected future taxable income and tax-planning strategies in making this assessment. As of September 28, 2014, the Company did not believe it had sufficient positive evidence to conclude that realization of its federal capital loss carry forwards and a portion of its foreign net deferred tax assets are more likely than not to be realized.
	For the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014, there is tax benefit of $6.1 million reflected in other comprehensive income. There was no tax benefit reflected in other comprehensive income for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2013 because the Company had a valuation allowance.
	With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state or local income tax examinations by taxing authorities for years prior to 2008 and is no longer subject to Mexico income tax examinations by taxing authorities for years prior to 2009.
	The Company is pursuing the IRS' amended proof of claim relating to the tax year ended June 26, 2004 for Gold Kist Inc. (“Gold Kist”). See “Note 15. Commitments and Contingencies” for additional information.

PENSION_AND_OTHER_POSTRETIREME

PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS	'
	PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
	The Company sponsors programs that provide retirement benefits to most of its employees. These programs include qualified defined benefit pension plans, nonqualified defined benefit retirement plans, a defined benefit postretirement life insurance plan and defined contribution retirement savings plans. Expenses recognized under all of these retirement plans totaled $1.5 million and $1.9 million in the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013, respectively. Expenses recognized under all of these retirement plans totaled $4.3 million and $5.7 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013, respectively.
	Net defined benefit pension and other postretirement costs included the following components:
		Thirteen Weeks Ended										Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
		September 28, 2014					September 29, 2013					September 28, 2014					September 29, 2013
		Pension Benefits			Other Benefits		Pension Benefits			Other Benefits		Pension Benefits			Other Benefits		Pension Benefits			Other Benefits
		(In thousands)
	Service cost	$	—		$	—	$	(20	)	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—		$	—
	Interest cost	2,026			20		1,988			20		6,078			60		5,965			59
	Estimated return on	(1,593		)	—		(1,349		)	—		(4,780		)	—		(4,048		)	—
	plan assets
	Amortization of net	14			—		250			—		42			—		751			—
	loss (gain)
	Net costs	$	447		$	20	$	869		$	20	$	1,340		$	60	$	2,668		$	59
	During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014, the Company contributed $8.2 million and $11.6 million, respectively, to its defined benefit plans.
	The Company remeasures both plan assets and obligations on a quarterly basis.
	The Company and certain retirement plans that it sponsors invest in a variety of financial instruments. Certain postretirement funds in which the Company participates hold significant amounts of mortgage-backed securities. However, none of the mortgages collateralizing these securities are considered subprime.

STOCKHOLDERS_EQUITY

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Equity [Abstract]	'
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	'
	STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
	The following tables provide information regarding the changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss:
		Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014(a)											Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
													September 29, 2013(a)
		Losses Related to Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits				Unrealized Holding Gains on Available-for-Sale Securities				Total			Losses Related to Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
		(In thousands)
	Balance, beginning of period	$	(45,797	)		$	62			$	(45,735	)	$	(68,511	)
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before	(10,094		)		169				(9,925		)	35,363
	reclassifications
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other	26				(181		)		(155		)	751
	comprehensive loss to net income
	Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	(10,068		)		(12		)		(10,080		)	36,114
	Balance, end of period	$	(55,865	)		$	50			$	(55,815	)	$	(32,397	)
	(a)	All amounts are net of tax. Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to accumulated other comprehensive loss.
			Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss(a)
	Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Components		Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended				Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended				Affected Line Item in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
			28-Sep-14				29-Sep-13
			(In thousands)
	Realized gain on sale of securities		$	290			$	—			Selling, general and administrative expense
	Amortization of defined benefit pension and
	other postretirement plan actuarial losses:
	Union employees pension plan(b)(d)		—				(27		)		Cost of sales
	Legacy Gold Kist plans(c)(d)		(42		)		(724		)		Selling, general and administrative expense
	Total before tax		248				(751		)
	Tax benefit (expense)		(93		)		—
	Total reclassification for the period		$	155			(751		)
	(a)	Amounts in parentheses represent debits to results of operations.
	(b)	The Company sponsors the Pilgrim's Pride Retirement Plan for Union Employees, a qualified defined benefit pension plan covering certain locations or work groups with collective bargaining agreements.
	(c)	The Company sponsors the Pilgrim's Pride Plan for Legacy Gold Kist Employees, a qualified defined benefit pension plan covering certain eligible U.S. employees who were employed at locations that the Company purchased through its acquisition of Gold Kist in 2007, the Former Gold Kist Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, a nonqualified defined benefit retirement plan covering certain former Gold Kist executives, the Former Gold Kist Inc. Directors' Emeriti Plan, a nonqualified defined benefit retirement plan covering certain former Gold Kist directors, and the Gold Kist Inc. Retiree Life Insurance Plan, a defined benefit postretirement life insurance plan covering certain retired Gold Kist employees.
	(d)	These accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See “Note 11. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits” to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
	Restrictions on Retained Earnings
	Both the U.S. Credit Facility and the indenture governing the 2018 Notes restrict, but do not prohibit, the Company from declaring dividends.

INCENTIVE_COMPENSATION

INCENTIVE COMPENSATION	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
INCENTIVE COMPENSATION [Abstract]	'
INCENTIVE COMPENSATION	'
	INCENTIVE COMPENSATION
	The Company sponsors a short-term incentive plan that provides the grant of either cash or share-based bonus awards payable upon achievement of specified performance goals (the “STIP”). Full-time, salaried exempt employees of the Company and its affiliates who are selected by the administering committee are eligible to participate in the STIP. The Company has accrued $22.6 million in costs related to the STIP at September 28, 2014 related to cash bonus awards that could potentially be awarded during the remainder of 2014 and 2015.
	The Company also sponsors a performance-based, omnibus long-term incentive plan that provides for the grant of a broad range of long-term equity-based and cash-based awards to the Company's officers and other employees, members of the Board of Directors and any consultants (the “LTIP”). The equity-based awards that may be granted under the LTIP include “incentive stock options,” within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards (“RSAs”) and restricted stock units (“RSUs”). At September 28, 2014, we have reserved approximately 6.6 million shares of common stock for future issuance under the LTIP.
	The following awards existed during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014:
	Award Type		Benefit Plan	Award Quantity			Grant Date		Vesting Condition		Vesting Date		Estimated Forfeiture Rate		Settlement Method
	RSA		Employment Agreement	100,000			January 14, 2011		Service		January 3, 2014		—	%	Stock
	RSA		LTIP	72,675			August 27, 2012		Service		April 27, 2014		—	%	Stock
	RSU		LTIP	608,561			February 4, 2013		Service		December 31, 2014		9.66	%	Stock
	RSA		LTIP	15,000			February 25, 2013		Service		February 24, 2015		—	%	Stock
	RSA		LTIP	15,000			February 25, 2013		Service		February 24, 2016		—	%	Stock
	RSU		LTIP	206,933			February 26, 2013		Service		December 31, 2014		—	%	Stock
	RSU		LTIP	462,518			February 19, 2014		Service		December 31, 2016		13.49	%	Stock
	The fair value of each RSA and RSU granted represents the closing price of the Company's common stock on the respective grant date.
	Compensation costs and the income tax benefit recognized for our share-based compensation arrangements are included below:
		Thirteen Weeks Ended							Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
		28-Sep-14			29-Sep-13				28-Sep-14				29-Sep-13
		(In thousands)
	Share-based compensation cost:
	Cost of sales	$	60		$	102			$	231			$	255
	Selling, general and administrative expense	1,067			711				3,273				2,160
	Total	$	1,127		$	813			$	3,504			$	2,415
	Income tax benefit	$	156		$	151			$	672			$	488
	The Company’s RSA and RSU activity is included below:
		Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014						Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 29, 2013
		Number		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value				Number			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
		(In thousands, except weighted average fair values)
	RSAs:
	Outstanding at beginning of period	203		$	6.59			273			$	6.54
	Granted	—		—				30			8.72
	Vested	(173	)	6.22				(100	)		7.1
	Outstanding at end of period	30		$	8.72			203			$	6.59
	RSUs:
	Outstanding at beginning of period	729		$	8.81			—			$	—
	Granted	462		16.7				815			8.82
	Vested	—		—				—			—
	Forfeited	(71	)	10.34				(72	)		8.89
	Outstanding at end of period	1,120		$	11.97			743			$	8.81
	The total fair value of shares vested during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013 was $1.1 million and $0.7 million, respectively.
	At September 28, 2014, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to all nonvested awards was $7.1 million. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.05 years.
	Historically, we have issued new shares to satisfy award conversions.

RELATED_PARTY_TRANSACTIONS

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]	'
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS	'
	RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
	Pilgrim's has been and, in some cases, continues to be a party to certain transactions with affiliated persons and our current and former directors and executive officers. Company management has analyzed the terms of all contracts executed with related parties and believes that they are substantially similar to, and contain terms no less favorable to us than, those obtainable from unaffiliated parties.
	On December 28, 2009, JBS USA became the holder of the majority of the common stock of the Company. As of September 28, 2014, JBS USA beneficially owned 75.5% of the total outstanding shares of our common stock.
	Transactions with JBS USA and JBS USA, LLC (a JBS USA subsidiary) recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income are summarized below:
		Thirteen Weeks Ended		Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
		28-Sep-14	29-Sep-13	28-Sep-14	29-Sep-13
		(In thousands)
	JBS USA:
	Letter of credit fees(a)	335	513	1,005	1,697
	JBS USA, LLC:
	Purchases from JBS USA, LLC(b)	31,994	19,155	85,333	59,945
	Expenditures paid by JBS USA, LLC on behalf of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation(c)	2,099	11,281	21,013	34,659
	Sales to JBS USA, LLC(b)	2,763	13,996	36,234	49,263
	Expenditures paid by Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation on behalf of JBS USA, LLC(c)	891	630	2,197	1,313
	(a)	Beginning on October 26, 2011, JBS USA arranged for letters of credit to be issued on its account in the amount of $56.5 million to an insurance company on our behalf in order to allow that insurance company to return cash it held as collateral against potential liability claims. We agreed to reimburse JBS USA up to $56.5 million for potential draws upon these letters of credit. We reimburse JBS USA for the letter of credit costs we would have otherwise incurred under our credit facilities. During 2014, we have paid JBS USA $1.0 million for letter of credit costs. As of September 28, 2014, the Company has accrued an obligation of $0.1 million to reimburse JBS USA for letter of credit costs incurred on its behalf.
	(b)	We routinely execute transactions to both purchase products from JBS USA, LLC and sell products to them. As of September 28, 2014 and December 29, 2013, the outstanding payable to JBS USA, LLC was $2.0 million and $3.9 million, respectively. As of September 28, 2014 and December 29, 2013, the outstanding receivable from JBS USA, LLC was $0.2 million and $2.4 million, respectively. As of September 28, 2014, approximately $1.0 million of goods from JBS USA, LLC were in transit and not reflected on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.
	(c)	On January 19, 2010, the Company entered into an agreement with JBS USA, LLC in order to allocate costs associated with JBS USA, LLC's procurement of SAP licenses and maintenance services for its combined companies. Under this agreement, the fees associated with procuring SAP licenses and maintenance services are allocated between the Company and JBS USA, LLC in proportion to the percentage of licenses used by each company. The agreement expires on the date of expiration, or earlier termination, of the underlying SAP license agreement. On May 5, 2010, the Company also entered into an agreement with JBS USA, LLC in order to allocate the costs of supporting the business operations by one consolidated corporate team, which have historically been supported by their respective corporate teams. Expenditures paid by JBS USA, LLC on behalf of the Company will be reimbursed by the Company and expenditures paid by the Company on behalf of JBS USA, LLC will be reimbursed by JBS USA, LLC. This agreement expires on May 5, 2015.
	On June 13, 2013, PPC entered into an inventory purchase agreement with two of its Mexican subsidiaries, Incubadora Hidalgo S. de R. L. de C.V. (“Incubadora”), and Pilgrim's Pride S. de R.L. de C.V. (“PPSRLCV”), under which Incubadora, and PPSRLCV disbursed $100.0 million to PPC as a non-refundable advance payment towards the purchase of inventory. The agreement expired on June 13, 2014. During the term of this agreement, Incubadora, and PPSRLCV purchased inventory from PPC through the ordinary course of business. The price for the inventory was determined as the fair market value of the inventory at the time of the purchase less a discount of 2.1863%. These purchases reduced the advance payment until the advance payment amount was exhausted. On June 13, 2014, the inventory purchase agreement was amended to increase the discount to 3.21% and extend the maturity date to June 13, 2015. Transactions and balances resulting from this agreement eliminate upon consolidation.

COMMITMENTS_AND_CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	'
	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	We are a party to many routine contracts in which we provide general indemnities in the normal course of business to third parties for various risks. Among other considerations, we have not recorded a liability for any of these indemnities as based upon the likelihood of payment, the fair value of such indemnities would not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
	The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary course of business. In the Company’s opinion, it has made appropriate and adequate accruals for claims where necessary; however, the ultimate liability for these matters is uncertain, and if significantly different than the amounts accrued, the ultimate outcome could have a material effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company. For a discussion of the material legal proceedings and claims, see Part II, Item 1. “Legal Proceedings.” Below is a summary of some of these material proceedings and claims. The Company believes it has substantial defenses to the claims made and intends to vigorously defend these cases.
	On December 1, 2008, Pilgrim’s and six of its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division (“Bankruptcy Court”). The cases were jointly administered under Case No. 08-45664. The Company emerged from Chapter 11 on December 28, 2009. The Company is the named defendant in several pre-petition lawsuits that, as of June 29, 2014, have not been resolved. Among the claims presently pending are claims brought against certain current and former directors, executive officers and employees of the Company, the Pilgrim’s Pride Administrative Committee and the Pilgrim’s Pride Pension Committee seeking unspecified damages under section 502 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. § 1132. These claims were brought by individual participants in the Pilgrim’s Pride Retirement Savings Plan, individually and on behalf of a putative class, alleging that the defendants breached fiduciary duties to plan participants and beneficiaries or otherwise violated ERISA. Although the Company is not a named defendant in these claims, our bylaws require us to indemnify our current and former directors and officers from any liabilities and expenses incurred by them in connection with actions they took in good faith while serving as an officer or director. In these actions the plaintiffs assert claims in excess of $35.0 million. The likelihood of an unfavorable outcome or the amount or range of any possible loss to the Company cannot be determined at this time.
	Other claims presently pending against the Company are claims seeking unspecified damages brought by current or former contract chicken growers who allege, along with other assertions, that the Company breached grower contracts and made false representations to induce the plaintiffs into building chicken farms and entering into chicken growing agreements with the Company. In the case styled Shelia Adams, et al. v. Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, on September 30, 2011, the trial court issued its findings of fact and conclusions of law stating that the Company violated section 192(e) of the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 by purportedly attempting to manipulate the price of chicken by idling the El Dorado, Arkansas complex and rejecting the El Dorado growers’ contracts. The trial court awarded damages in the amount of $25.8 million. Afterward, the Company filed post-judgment motions attacking the trial court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law, which, on December 28, 2011, were granted in part and resulted in a reduction of the damages award from $25.8 million to $25.6 million. On January 19, 2012, the Company appealed the findings of fact and conclusions of law and decision concerning the post-judgment motions to the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (the "Fifth Circuit"). Oral argument occurred December 3, 2012. On August 27, 2013, the Fifth Circuit reversed the judgment, and entered a judgment in favor of the Company. Plaintiffs thereafter filed a petition for rehearing en banc. Plaintiffs’ petition for rehearing was denied on October 15, 2013. On January 13, 2014, Plaintiffs filed a Petition for a Writ of Certiorari requesting the Supreme Court of the United States to accept their case for review. Plaintiff’s petition for a Writ of Certiorari was denied on February 24, 2014. The Fifth Circuit's decision and prior favorable trial court rulings regarding the El Dorado growers' claims suggest that the likelihood of any recovery by growers remaining in the case is too remote to maintain the previously-recorded loss accrual. Therefore, the Company reversed the accrual on September 1, 2013.
	As for the remaining chicken grower claims, the bench trial relating to the allegations asserted by the plaintiffs from the Farmerville, Louisiana complex began on July 16, 2012. That bench trial concluded on August 2, 2012, but the Marshall Court postponed its ruling until the appeals process regarding the allegations asserted by the El Dorado growers was exhausted. The bench trial relating to the claims asserted by the plaintiffs from the Nacogdoches, Texas complex began on September 12, 2012, but was also postponed until the appeals process regarding the allegations asserted by the El Dorado growers was exhausted. The remaining bench trial for the plaintiffs from the De Queen and Batesville, Arkansas complexes was scheduled for October 29, 2012, but that trial date was canceled. Following the denial by the Supreme Court of the United States for a Writ of Certiorari related to the claims asserted by the plaintiffs from the El Dorado, Arkansas complex, the Marshall Court requested briefing on the allegations asserted by the plaintiffs from the Farmerville, Louisiana complex and scheduled trial proceedings for allegations asserted by the plaintiffs from the Nacogdoches complex on August 25, 2014 and allegations asserted by the plaintiffs from the De Queen and Batesville, Arkansas complexes on October 27, 2014. Prior to commencing the trial proceedings on the allegations asserted by the plaintiffs from the De Queen and Batesville, Arkansas complexes, the Marshall Court announced it would enter judgment in PPC’s favor on all remaining federal causes of action, and plaintiffs from the De Queen and Batesville complexes were given additional time to brief Arkansas state law claims. The court-imposed deadline passed with no briefs filed by plaintiffs. At this time, the Marshall Court has not memorialized its decision in writing.
	The United States Department of Treasury, IRS filed an amended proof of claim in the Bankruptcy Court pursuant to which the IRS asserted claims that total $74.7 million. We entered into two Stipulations with the IRS on December 12, 2012 that accounted for approximately $29.3 million of the amended proof of claim and should result in no additional tax due.
	In connection with the remaining claim for approximately $45.4 million included in the amended proof of claim, we filed a petition in Tax Court on May 26, 2010 in response to a Notice of Deficiency that was issued to the Company as the successor in interest to Gold Kist. The Notice of Deficiency and the Tax Court proceeding relate to a loss that Gold Kist claimed for its tax year ended June 26, 2004. On December 11, 2013, the Tax Court issued its opinion in the Tax Court case holding the loss that Gold Kist claimed for its tax year ended June 26, 2004 is capital in nature. On January 10, 2014, PPC filed both a Motion for Reconsideration and a Motion for Full Tax Court review of both its Motion for Reconsideration and any order issued in response to such motion. On March 10, 2014, the Tax Court denied both the Motion for Reconsideration and the Motion for Full Tax Court review. On April 14, 2014, the Company appealed the findings of fact and conclusions of law and decision concerning the post-judgment motions to the Fifth Circuit. The Company filed an opening brief with the Fifth Circuit on June 30, 2014. The IRS filed a response brief with the Fifth Circuit on August 15, 2014. The Company then filed their reply brief with the Fifth Circuit on September 2, 2014. The Fifth Circuit has tentatively scheduled oral argument for the first full week of January 2015.
	Upon the initial filing of the Gold Kist tax return for the year ended June 26, 2004, the Company assessed the likelihood that the position related to the proceeding would be sustained upon examination and determined that it met the recognition threshold and the full amount of benefit was recognized. We continue to believe the position is more likely than not of being sustained. If adversely determined, the outcome could have a material effect on the Company's operating results and financial position.

SUPPLEMENTAL_GUARANTOR_FINANCI

SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Abstract]	'
SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION	'
	SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION
	On December 15, 2010, the Company sold the 2018 Notes. The 2018 Notes are unsecured obligations of the Company and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation of West Virginia, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Guarantor”). In accordance with Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, the following condensed consolidating financial statements present the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company (referred to as “Parent” for the purpose of this note only) on a Parent-only basis, the Guarantor on a Guarantor-only basis, the combined non-Guarantor subsidiaries and elimination entries necessary to arrive at the information for the Parent, the Guarantor and non-Guarantor subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. Investments in subsidiaries are accounted for by the Company using the equity method for this presentation.
	The tables below present the condensed consolidating balance sheets as of September 28, 2014 and December 29, 2013, as well as the condensed consolidating statements of operations and comprehensive income for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013, and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 based on the guarantor structure.
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
	28-Sep-14
			Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
							Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
			(In thousands)
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	604,990			$	—			$	263,607			$	—			$	868,597
	Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for		367,848				1,419				44,135				—				413,402
	doubtful accounts
	Account receivable from JBS USA, LLC		240				—				—				—				240
	Inventories		696,989				20,639				100,264				—				817,892
	Income taxes receivable		588				—				—				(588		)		—
	Current deferred tax assets		—				9,902				506				(8,181		)		2,227
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets		38,519				208				38,666				—				77,393
	Assets held for sale		1,419				—				—				—				1,419
	Total current assets		1,710,593				32,168				447,178				(8,769		)		2,181,170
	Intercompany receivable		(66,101		)		123,514				—				(57,413		)		—
	Investment in subsidiaries		669,742				—				—				(669,742		)		—
	Deferred tax assets		75,260				—				13,466				(3,513		)		85,213
	Other long-lived assets		29,741				—				181,025				(180,000		)		30,766
	Identified intangible assets, net		20,521				—				7,698				—				28,219
	Property, plant and equipment, net		1,029,532				45,682				109,966				(4,766		)		1,180,414
	Total assets		$	3,469,288			$	201,364			$	759,333			$	(924,203	)		$	3,505,782
	Accounts payable		318,106				17,501				48,172				—				383,779
	Account payable to JBS USA, LLC		1,969				—				—				—				1,969
	Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		246,759				37,318				23,076				—				307,153
	Income taxes payable		151,714				—				25,027				(588		)		176,153
	Current deferred tax liabilities		7,189				—				15,070				(7,189		)		15,070
	Current maturities of long-term debt		260				—				—				—				260
	Total current liabilities		725,997				54,819				111,345				(7,777		)		884,384
	Long-term debt, less current maturities		527,115				—				—				(25,000		)		502,115
	Intercompany payable		—				3,561				53,852				(57,413		)		—
	Deferred tax liabilities		—				4,204				301				(4,505		)		—
	Other long-term liabilities		85,140				—				3,350				—				88,490
	Total liabilities		1,338,252				62,584				168,848				(94,695		)		1,474,989
	Total Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation stockholders’		2,131,036				138,780				587,395				(829,508		)		2,027,703
	equity
	Noncontrolling interest		—				—				3,090				—				3,090
	Total stockholders’ equity		2,131,036				138,780				590,485				(829,508		)		2,030,793
	Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	3,469,288			$	201,364			$	759,333			$	(924,203	)		$	3,505,782
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
	29-Dec-13
		Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
						Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
		(In thousands)
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	413,092			$	—			$	95,114			$	—			$	508,206
	Investment in available-for-sale securities	96,902				—				—				—				96,902
	Trade accounts and other receivables, less	327,367				1,380				47,931				—				376,678
	allowance for doubtful accounts
	Account receivable from JBS USA, LLC	2,388				—				—				—				2,388
	Inventories	696,604				20,215				92,013				—				808,832
	Income taxes receivable	52,662				—				12,793				(587		)		64,868
	Current deferred tax assets	3,213				5,698				506				(7,190		)		2,227
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	34,881				270				26,697				—				61,848
	Assets held for sale	6,798				—				235				—				7,033
	Total current assets	1,633,907				27,563				275,289				(7,777		)		1,928,982
	Intercompany receivable	(64,772		)		114,707				—				(49,935		)		—
	Investment in subsidiaries	472,431				—				—				(472,431		)		—
	Deferred tax assets	5,995				—				18,924				(5,998		)		18,921
	Other long-lived assets	37,282				—				182,881				(180,000		)		40,163
	Identified intangible assets, net	23,463				—				9,062				—				32,525
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,009,711				44,643				102,221				(4,764		)		1,151,811
Total assets	$	3,118,017			$	186,913			$	588,377			$	(720,905	)		$	3,172,402
Current maturities of long-term debt	$	410,234			$	—			$	—			$	—			$	410,234
Accounts payable	308,154				12,711				49,495				—				370,360
Account payable to JBS USA, LLC	3,934				—				—				—				3,934
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	269,062				33,821				(19,528		)		—				283,355
Income taxes payable	—				—				587				(587		)		—
Current deferred tax liabilities	7,190				—				15,515				(7,190		)		15,515
Total current liabilities	998,574				46,532				46,069				(7,777		)		1,083,398
Long-term debt, less current maturities	526,999				—				—				(25,000		)		501,999
Intercompany payable	—				—				49,935				(49,935		)		—
Deferred tax liabilities	13,944				5,698				297				(5,995		)		13,944
Other long-term liabilities	77,228				—				3,231				—				80,459
Total liabilities	1,616,745				52,230				99,532				(88,707		)		1,679,800
Total Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation stockholders’	1,501,272				134,683				486,061				(632,198		)		1,489,818
equity
Noncontrolling interest	—				—				2,784				—				2,784
Total stockholders’ equity	1,501,272				134,683				488,845				(632,198		)		1,492,602
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	3,118,017			$	186,913			$	588,377			$	(720,905	)		$	3,172,402
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Thirteen Weeks Ended September 28, 2014
		Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
						Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
		(In thousands)
Net sales		$	1,844,929			$	121,540			$	276,394			$	25,185			$	2,268,048
Cost of sales		1,453,490				124,940				214,168				25,185				1,817,783
Gross profit (loss)		391,439				(3,400		)		62,226				—				450,265
Selling, general and administrative expense		38,184				1,112				5,333				—				44,629
Administrative restructuring charges		135				—				—				—				135
Operating income (loss)		353,120				(4,512		)		56,893				—				405,501
Interest expense, net		11,315				(48		)		105				—				11,372
Interest income		(215		)		—				(956		)		—				(1,171		)
Foreign currency transaction loss		—				—				6,414				—				6,414
Miscellaneous, net		(1,815		)		1,447				(323		)		81				(610		)
Income (loss) before income taxes		343,835				(5,911		)		51,653				(81		)		389,496
Income tax expense (benefit)		118,146				(2,245		)		17,792				—				133,693
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of		225,689				(3,666		)		33,861				(81		)		255,803
consolidated subsidiaries
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries		30,295				—				—				(30,295		)		—
Net income (loss)		255,984				(3,666		)		33,861				(30,376		)		255,803
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		—				—				(181		)		—				(181		)
Net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride		$	255,984			$	(3,666	)		$	34,042			$	(30,376	)		$	255,984
Corporation
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Thirteen Weeks Ended September 29, 2013
		Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
						Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
		(In thousands)
Net sales		$	1,889,353			$	132,942			$	245,372			$	(124,852	)		$	2,142,815
Cost of sales		1,676,605				117,753				235,856				(123,972		)		1,906,242
Gross profit		212,748				15,189				9,516				(880		)		236,573
Selling, general and administrative expense		36,976				1,068				5,753				—				43,797
Administrative restructuring charges		3,126				—				532				—				3,658
Operating income		172,646				14,121				3,231				(880		)		189,118
Interest expense, net		20,246				—				167				—				20,413
Interest income		(8		)		—				(563		)		—				(571		)
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)		(1		)		—				2,683				—				2,682
Miscellaneous, net		(1,508		)		1,260				(98		)		338				(8		)
Income before income taxes		153,917				12,861				1,042				(1,218		)		166,602
Income tax expense (benefit)		13,643				—				(8,065		)		—				5,578
Income before equity in earnings of consolidated		140,274				12,861				9,107				(1,218		)		161,024
subsidiaries
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries		20,643				—				—				(20,643		)		—
Net income		160,917				12,861				9,107				(21,861		)		161,024
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling		—				—				107				—				107
interest
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride		$	160,917			$	12,861			$	9,000			$	(21,861	)		$	160,917
Corporation
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014
		Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
						Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
		(In thousands)
Net sales		$	5,491,934			$	362,390			$	819,354			$	(200,749	)		$	6,472,929
Cost of sales		4,660,153				344,707				653,972				(200,749		)		5,458,083
Gross profit		831,781				17,683				165,382				—				1,014,846
Selling, general and administrative expense		119,268				3,491				15,678				—				138,437
Administrative restructuring charges		2,286				—				—				—				2,286
Operating income		710,227				14,192				149,704				—				874,123
Interest expense, net		45,114				(109		)		402				—				45,407
Interest income		(522		)		—				(2,452		)		—				(2,974		)
Foreign currency transaction loss		2				—				4,930				—				4,932
Miscellaneous, net		(7,090		)		5,034				(766		)		213				(2,609		)
Income before income taxes		672,723				9,267				147,590				(213		)		829,367
Income tax expense		233,478				5,171				46,283				—				284,932
Income before equity in earnings of consolidated		439,245				4,096				101,307				(213		)		544,435
subsidiaries
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries		105,216				—				—				(105,216		)		—
Net income		544,461				4,096				101,307				(105,429		)		544,435
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling		—				—				(26		)		—				(26		)
interest
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride		$	544,461			$	4,096			$	101,333			$	(105,429	)		$	544,461
Corporation
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 29, 2013
		Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
						Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
		(In thousands)
Net sales		$	5,538,779			$	404,360			$	801,270			$	(380,546	)		$	6,363,863
Cost of sales		5,059,584				366,769				679,661				(379,666		)		5,726,348
Gross profit		479,195				37,591				121,609				(880		)		637,515
Selling, general and administrative expense		111,473				3,187				17,228				—				131,888
Administrative restructuring charges		4,090				—				532				—				4,622
Operating income		363,632				34,404				103,849				(880		)		501,005
Interest expense, net		67,710				—				489				—				68,199
Interest income		(14		)		—				(1,480		)		—				(1,494		)
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)		(10		)		—				4,781				—				4,771
Miscellaneous, net		(5,254		)		3,569				435				520				(730		)
Income before income taxes		301,200				30,835				99,624				(1,400		)		430,259
Income tax expense		528				5,764				17,924				—				24,216
Income before equity in earnings of consolidated		300,672				25,071				81,700				(1,400		)		406,043
subsidiaries
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries		105,532				—				—				(105,532		)		—
Net income		406,204				25,071				81,700				(106,932		)		406,043
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		—				—				(161		)		—				(161		)
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride		$	406,204			$	25,071			$	81,861			$	(106,932	)		$	406,204
Corporation
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Thirteen Weeks Ended September 28, 2014
		Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
						Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
		(In thousands)
Net income (loss)		$	255,984			$	(3,666	)		$	33,861			$	(30,376	)		$	255,803
Other comprehensive loss:
Gain associated with available-for-sale		17				—				—				—				17
securities, net of tax
Loss associated with pension and other		(653		)		—				—				—				(653		)
postretirement benefits, net of tax
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax		(636		)		—				—				—				(636		)
Comprehensive income (loss)		255,348				(3,666		)		33,861				(30,376		)		255,167
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to		—				—				(181		)		—				(181		)
noncontrolling interests
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to		$	255,348			$	(3,666	)		$	34,042			$	(30,376	)		$	255,348
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Thirteen Weeks Ended September 29, 2013
		Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
						Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
		(In thousands)
Net income		$	160,917			$	12,861			$	9,107			$	(21,861	)		$	161,024
Other comprehensive income:
Gains associated with pension and other		313				—				—				—				313
postretirement benefits, net of tax
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax		313				—				—				—				313
Comprehensive income		161,230				12,861				9,107				(21,861		)		161,337
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to		—				—				107				—				107
noncontrolling interests
Comprehensive income attributable to		$	161,230			$	12,861			$	9,000			$	(21,861	)		$	161,230
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014
		Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
						Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
		(In thousands)
Net income		$	544,461			$	4,096			$	101,307			$	(105,429	)		$	544,435
Other comprehensive loss:
Loss associated with available-for-sale		(12		)		—				—				—				(12		)
securities, net of tax
Loss associated with pension and other		(10,068		)		—				—				—				(10,068		)
postretirement benefits, net of tax
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax		(10,080		)		—				—				—				(10,080		)
Comprehensive income		534,381				4,096				101,307				(105,429		)		534,355
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to		—				—				(26		)		—				(26		)
noncontrolling interests
Comprehensive income attributable to		$	534,381			$	4,096			$	101,333			$	(105,429	)		$	534,381
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 29, 2013
		Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
						Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
		(In thousands)
Net income		$	406,204			$	25,071			$	81,700			$	(106,932	)		$	406,043
Other comprehensive income:
Gains associated with pension and other		36,114				—				—				—				36,114
postretirement benefits, net of tax
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax		36,114				—				—				—				36,114
Comprehensive income		442,318				25,071				81,700				(106,932		)		442,157
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to		—				—				(161		)		—				(161		)
noncontrolling interests
Comprehensive income attributable to		$	442,318			$	25,071			$	81,861			$	(106,932	)		$	442,318
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014
		Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
						Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
		(In thousands)
Cash provided by operating activities		$	608,674			$	5,441			$	188,506			$	(213	)		$	802,408
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment		(109,071		)		(5,448		)		(16,830		)		—				(131,349		)
Purchases of investment securities		(55,100		)		—				—				—				(55,100		)
Proceeds from sale or maturity of investment securities		152,050				—				—				—				152,050
Proceeds from property sales and disposals		5,544				7				2,871				—				8,422
Cash used in investing activities		(6,577		)		(5,441		)		(13,959		)		—				(25,977		)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on long-term debt		(410,199		)		—				—				—				(410,199		)
Proceeds from sale of subsidiary common stock		—				—				332				—				332
Other financing activities		—				—				(213		)		213				—
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(410,199		)		—				119				213				(409,867		)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		—				—				(6,173		)		—				(6,173		)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents		191,898				—				168,493				—				360,391
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		413,092				—				95,114				—				508,206
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		$	604,990			$	—			$	263,607			$	—			$	868,597
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 29, 2013
		Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
						Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
		(In thousands)
Cash provided by operating activities		$	551,027			$	4,235			$	41,974			$	(520	)		$	596,716
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment		(63,298		)		(4,240		)		(8,755		)		—				(76,293		)
Proceeds from property sales and disposals		2,288				5				1,037				—				3,330
Cash used in investing activities		(61,010		)		(4,235		)		(7,718		)		—				(72,963		)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt		505,600				—				—				—				505,600
Payments on long-term debt		(758,283		)		—				—				—				(758,283		)
Payment of capitalized loan costs		(5,006		)		—				—				—				(5,006		)
Other financing activities		—				—				(520		)		520				—
Cash used in financing activities		(257,689		)		—				(520		)		520				(257,689		)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		—				—				(3,928		)		—				(3,928		)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents		232,328				—				29,808				—				262,136
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		27,657				—				40,523				—				68,180
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		$	259,985			$	—			$	70,331			$	—			$	330,316

PENDING_ACQUISITIONS

PENDING ACQUISITIONS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
PENDING ACQUISITIONS	'
	PENDING ACQUISITION
	On July 28, 2014, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Provemex Holdings LLC and its subsidiaries (together, “Tyson Mexico”) from Tyson Foods, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries for approximately $400.0 million, which is subject to adjustment for closing date working capital. The transaction is expected to be completed during the fourth quarter of 2014 or the first quarter of 2015, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. We expect to fund the purchase price from available cash balances and bank credit. Tyson Mexico is a vertically integrated poultry business based in Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico. It has a production capacity of 3 million birds per week in its three plants and employs more than 5,400 in its plants, offices and seven distribution centers.

DESCRIPTION_OF_BUSINESS_AND_BA1

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Consolidated Financial Statements	'
	Consolidated Financial Statements
	The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal and recurring adjustments unless otherwise disclosed) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 28, 2014. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2013.
	Pilgrim’s operates on a 52/53-week fiscal year that ends on the Sunday falling on or before December 31. The reader should assume any reference we make to a particular year (for example, 2014) in the notes to these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements applies to our fiscal year and not the calendar year.
	The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries. We eliminate all significant affiliate accounts and transactions upon consolidation.
	The Company measures the financial statements of its Mexico subsidiaries as if the U.S. dollar were the functional currency. Accordingly, we remeasure assets and liabilities, other than non-monetary assets, of the Mexico subsidiaries at current exchange rates. We remeasure non-monetary assets using the historical exchange rate in effect on the date of each asset’s acquisition. We remeasure income and expenses at average exchange rates in effect during the period. Currency exchange gains or losses are included in the line item Foreign currency transaction loss in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
Reportable Segment	'
	Reportable Segment
	We operate in one reportable business segment, as a producer and seller of chicken products we either produce or purchase for resale.
Revenue Recognition	'
	Revenue Recognition
	We recognize revenue when all of the following circumstances are satisfied: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) price is fixed or determinable, (iii) collectability is reasonably assured and (iv) delivery has occurred. Delivery occurs in the period in which the customer takes title and assumes the risks and rewards of ownership of the products specified in the customer’s purchase order or sales agreement. Revenue is recorded net of estimated incentive offerings including special pricing agreements, promotions and other volume-based incentives. Revisions to these estimates are charged back to net sales in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known.
Book Overdraft	'
	Book Overdraft
	The majority of the Company's disbursement bank accounts are zero balance accounts where cash needs are funded as checks are presented for payment by the holder. Checks issued pending clearance that result in overdraft balances for accounting purposes are classified as accounts payable and the change in the related balance is reflected in operating activities on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	'
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new accounting guidance on revenue recognition, which provides for a single five-step model to be applied to all revenue contracts with customers. The new standard also requires additional financial statement disclosures that will enable users to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows relating to customer contracts. Companies have an option to use either a retrospective approach or cumulative effect adjustment approach to implement the standard. There is no option for early adoption. The provisions of the new guidance will be effective as of the beginning of our 2017 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected a transition approach to implement the standard.

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Tables

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis	'
	The following items were measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
			September 28, 2014
			Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
			(In thousands)
	Derivative assets - commodity futures instruments		$	5,125			$	—			$	—			$	5,125
	Derivative assets - commodity options instruments		—				62				—				62
	Derivative assets - foreign currency instruments		1,278				—				—				1,278
	Deferred compensation plan assets		7,218				—				—				7,218
	Derivative liabilities - commodity futures instruments		(5,350		)		—				—				(5,350		)
	Derivative liabilities - commodity options instruments		—				(1,013		)		—				(1,013		)
	Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements:
	Public bonds and notes		525,335				—				—				525,335
	Capitalized lease obligations		—				—				627				627
			December 29, 2013
			Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
			(In thousands)
	Short-term investments in available-for-sale securities		$	—			$	96,902			$	—			$	96,902
	Derivative assets - commodity futures instruments		1,494				—				—				1,494
	Derivative assets - commodity options instruments		—				1,395				—				1,395
	Derivative assets - foreign currency instruments		1,214				—				—				1,214
	Deferred compensation plan assets		7,208				—				—				7,208
	Derivative liabilities - commodity futures instruments		(1,728		)		—				—				(1,728		)
	Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements:
	Public bonds and notes		552,592				—				—				552,592
	Term notes		—				—				424,650				424,650
	Capitalized lease obligations		—				—				704				704
Schedule of Change in Value of Level 3 Liabilities	'
		Term Notes and Revolver								Capitalized Lease Obligations
		Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended								Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
		28-Sep-14				29-Sep-13				28-Sep-14				29-Sep-13
	Change in Value of Level 3 Liabilities:	(In thousands)
	Balance, beginning of period	$	424,650			$	686,435			$	704			$	880
	Borrowings	—				509,500				—				—
	Payments	(410,099		)		(762,091		)		(100		)		(92		)
	Change in fair value inputs	(14,551		)		(6,983		)		23				—
	Balance, end of period	$	—			$	426,861			$	627			$	788
Schedule of Carrying Amounts and Estimated Fair Values of Financial Assets and Liabilities	'
	The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of financial assets and liabilities recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets consisted of the following:
			28-Sep-14								December 29, 2013
			Carrying				Fair				Carrying				Fair			Note Reference
			Amount				Value				Amount				Value
							(In thousands)
	Short-term investments in available-for-sale securities		$	—			$	—			$	96,902			$	96,902		5
	Derivative assets - commodity futures instruments		5,125				5,125				1,494				1,494			6
	Derivative assets - commodity options instruments		62				62				1,395				1,395			6
	Derivative assets - foreign currency instruments		1,278				1,278				1,214				1,214			6
	Deferred compensation plan assets		7,218				7,218				7,208				7,208
	Derivative liabilities - commodity futures instruments		(5,350		)		(5,350		)		(1,728		)		(1,728		)	6
	Derivative liabilities - commodity options instruments		(1,013		)		(1,013		)		—				—			6
	Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements		(502,376		)		(525,962		)		(912,233		)		(977,946		)	9

TRADE_ACCOUNTS_AND_OTHER_RECEI1

TRADE ACCOUNTS AND OTHER RECEIVABLES (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Accounts Receivable, Net [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Trade Accounts and Other Receivables	'
	Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts, consisted of the following:
		September 28, 2014			29-Dec-13
		(In thousands)
	Trade accounts receivable	$	405,520		$	369,715
	Account receivable from JBS USA, LLC	240			2,388
	Employee receivables	—			14
	Notes receivable - current	1,145			—
	Other receivables	9,467			11,005
	Receivables, gross	416,372			383,122
	Allowance for doubtful accounts	(2,730		)	(4,056		)
	Receivables, net	$	413,642		$	379,066

INVENTORIES_Tables

INVENTORIES (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Inventories	'
	Inventories consisted of the following:
		September 28, 2014		December 29, 2013
		(In thousands)
	Live chicken and hens	$	384,120	$	368,582
	Feed, eggs and other	213,035		216,045
	Finished chicken products	220,157		223,932
	Total chicken inventories	817,312		808,559
	Commercial feed and other	580		273
	Total inventories	$	817,892	$	808,832

INVESTMENTS_IN_SECURITIES_Tabl

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Available-For-Sale Securities	'
	The following table summarizes our investments in available-for-sale securities:
		September 28, 2014				December 29, 2013
		Amortized Cost		Fair		Amortized Cost		Fair
				Value				Value
		(In thousands)
	Cash equivalents:
	Fixed income securities	$	433,413	$	433,413	$	103,121	$	103,124
	Other	19,577		19,577		56		56
	Short-term investments:
	Fixed income securities	$	—	$	—	$	96,902	$	96,902

DERIVATIVE_FINANCIAL_INSTRUMEN1

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Outstanding Derivative Instruments and Cash Collateral	'
	Information regarding the Company’s outstanding derivative instruments and cash collateral posted with (owed to) brokers is included in the following table:
		September 28, 2014			29-Dec-13
		(Fair values in thousands)
	Fair values:
	Commodity derivative assets	$	5,187		$	2,889
	Commodity derivative liabilities	(6,363		)	(1,728		)
	Cash collateral posted with brokers	8,040			4,142
	Foreign currency derivative assets	1,278			1,214
	Derivatives coverage(a):
	Corn	2		%	1.1		%
	Soybean meal	1.3		%	(3.6		)%
	Period through which stated percent of needs are covered:
	Corn	Jul-16			Sep-15
	Soybean meal	Jul-15			Jul-14
	(a)	Derivatives coverage is the percent of anticipated commodity needs covered by outstanding derivative instruments through a specified date.

PROPERTY_PLANT_AND_EQUIPMENT_T

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment	'
	Property, plant and equipment (“PP&E”), net consisted of the following:
		September 28, 2014			December 29, 2013
		(In thousands)
	Land	$	66,283		$	66,071
	Buildings	1,083,380			1,077,859
	Machinery and equipment	1,530,264			1,502,968
	Autos and trucks	55,083			55,779
	Construction-in-progress	130,229			66,926
	PP&E, gross	2,865,239			2,769,603
	Accumulated depreciation	(1,684,825		)	(1,617,792		)
	PP&E, net	$	1,180,414		$	1,151,811

CURRENT_LIABILITIES_Tables

CURRENT LIABILITIES (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Current Liabilities	'
	Current liabilities, other than income taxes and current maturities of long-term debt, consisted of the following components:
		September 28, 2014		December 29, 2013
		(In thousands)
	Accounts payable:
	Trade accounts	$	331,832	$	313,266
	Book overdrafts	50,045		55,378
	Other payables	1,902		1,716
	Total accounts payable	383,779		370,360
	Accounts payable to JBS USA, LLC	1,969		3,934
	Accrued expenses and other current liabilities:
	Compensation and benefits	106,329		100,965
	Interest and debt-related fees	12,094		7,558
	Insurance and self-insured claims	88,679		99,244
	Derivative liabilities:
	Futures	5,350		1,729
	Options	1,012		—
	Other accrued expenses	93,689		73,859
	Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities	307,153		283,355
		$	692,901	$	657,649

LONGTERM_DEBT_AND_OTHER_BORROW1

LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER BORROWING ARRANGEMENTS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Long-term Debt and Other Borrowing Arrangments	'
	Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements consisted of the following components:
		Maturity	September 28, 2014			December 29, 2013
			(In thousands)
	Senior notes, at 7 7/8%, net of unaccreted discount	2018	$	498,098		$	497,757
	U.S. Credit Facility (defined below):
	The U.S. Credit Facility Term B-1 note payable at	2014	—			204,880
	2.44%
	The U.S. Credit Facility Term B-2 note payable at	2014	—			205,219
	9.00%
	Other	Various	4,277			4,377
	Long-term debt		502,375			912,233
	Less: Current maturities of long-term debt		(260		)	(410,234		)
	Long-term debt, less current maturities		$	502,115		$	501,999

PENSION_AND_OTHER_POSTRETIREME1

PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Net Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Costs	'
	Net defined benefit pension and other postretirement costs included the following components:
		Thirteen Weeks Ended										Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
		September 28, 2014					September 29, 2013					September 28, 2014					September 29, 2013
		Pension Benefits			Other Benefits		Pension Benefits			Other Benefits		Pension Benefits			Other Benefits		Pension Benefits			Other Benefits
		(In thousands)
	Service cost	$	—		$	—	$	(20	)	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—		$	—
	Interest cost	2,026			20		1,988			20		6,078			60		5,965			59
	Estimated return on	(1,593		)	—		(1,349		)	—		(4,780		)	—		(4,048		)	—
	plan assets
	Amortization of net	14			—		250			—		42			—		751			—
	loss (gain)
	Net costs	$	447		$	20	$	869		$	20	$	1,340		$	60	$	2,668		$	59

STOCKHOLDERS_EQUITY_Tables

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Equity [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Changes in Unrealized Actuarial Losses	'
	The following tables provide information regarding the changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss:
		Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014(a)											Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
													September 29, 2013(a)
		Losses Related to Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits				Unrealized Holding Gains on Available-for-Sale Securities				Total			Losses Related to Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
		(In thousands)
	Balance, beginning of period	$	(45,797	)		$	62			$	(45,735	)	$	(68,511	)
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before	(10,094		)		169				(9,925		)	35,363
	reclassifications
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other	26				(181		)		(155		)	751
	comprehensive loss to net income
	Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	(10,068		)		(12		)		(10,080		)	36,114
	Balance, end of period	$	(55,865	)		$	50			$	(55,815	)	$	(32,397	)
	(a)	All amounts are net of tax. Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to accumulated other comprehensive loss.
Schedule of Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	'
			Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss(a)
	Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Components		Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended				Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended				Affected Line Item in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
			28-Sep-14				29-Sep-13
			(In thousands)
	Realized gain on sale of securities		$	290			$	—			Selling, general and administrative expense
	Amortization of defined benefit pension and
	other postretirement plan actuarial losses:
	Union employees pension plan(b)(d)		—				(27		)		Cost of sales
	Legacy Gold Kist plans(c)(d)		(42		)		(724		)		Selling, general and administrative expense
	Total before tax		248				(751		)
	Tax benefit (expense)		(93		)		—
	Total reclassification for the period		$	155			(751		)
	(a)	Amounts in parentheses represent debits to results of operations.
	(b)	The Company sponsors the Pilgrim's Pride Retirement Plan for Union Employees, a qualified defined benefit pension plan covering certain locations or work groups with collective bargaining agreements.
	(c)	The Company sponsors the Pilgrim's Pride Plan for Legacy Gold Kist Employees, a qualified defined benefit pension plan covering certain eligible U.S. employees who were employed at locations that the Company purchased through its acquisition of Gold Kist in 2007, the Former Gold Kist Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, a nonqualified defined benefit retirement plan covering certain former Gold Kist executives, the Former Gold Kist Inc. Directors' Emeriti Plan, a nonqualified defined benefit retirement plan covering certain former Gold Kist directors, and the Gold Kist Inc. Retiree Life Insurance Plan, a defined benefit postretirement life insurance plan covering certain retired Gold Kist employees.
	(d)	These accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See “Note 11. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits” to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

INCENTIVE_COMPENSATION_Tables

INCENTIVE COMPENSATION (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
INCENTIVE COMPENSATION [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Awards	'
	The following awards existed during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014:
	Award Type		Benefit Plan	Award Quantity			Grant Date		Vesting Condition		Vesting Date		Estimated Forfeiture Rate		Settlement Method
	RSA		Employment Agreement	100,000			January 14, 2011		Service		January 3, 2014		—	%	Stock
	RSA		LTIP	72,675			August 27, 2012		Service		April 27, 2014		—	%	Stock
	RSU		LTIP	608,561			February 4, 2013		Service		December 31, 2014		9.66	%	Stock
	RSA		LTIP	15,000			February 25, 2013		Service		February 24, 2015		—	%	Stock
	RSA		LTIP	15,000			February 25, 2013		Service		February 24, 2016		—	%	Stock
	RSU		LTIP	206,933			February 26, 2013		Service		December 31, 2014		—	%	Stock
	RSU		LTIP	462,518			February 19, 2014		Service		December 31, 2016		13.49	%	Stock
Schedule of Compensation Cost and Income Tax Benefit	'
	Compensation costs and the income tax benefit recognized for our share-based compensation arrangements are included below:
		Thirteen Weeks Ended							Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
		28-Sep-14			29-Sep-13				28-Sep-14				29-Sep-13
		(In thousands)
	Share-based compensation cost:
	Cost of sales	$	60		$	102			$	231			$	255
	Selling, general and administrative expense	1,067			711				3,273				2,160
	Total	$	1,127		$	813			$	3,504			$	2,415
	Income tax benefit	$	156		$	151			$	672			$	488
Schedule of Restricted Share and Restricted Stock Unit Activity	'
	The Company’s RSA and RSU activity is included below:
		Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014						Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 29, 2013
		Number		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value				Number			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
		(In thousands, except weighted average fair values)
	RSAs:
	Outstanding at beginning of period	203		$	6.59			273			$	6.54
	Granted	—		—				30			8.72
	Vested	(173	)	6.22				(100	)		7.1
	Outstanding at end of period	30		$	8.72			203			$	6.59
	RSUs:
	Outstanding at beginning of period	729		$	8.81			—			$	—
	Granted	462		16.7				815			8.82
	Vested	—		—				—			—
	Forfeited	(71	)	10.34				(72	)		8.89
	Outstanding at end of period	1,120		$	11.97			743			$	8.81

RELATED_PARTY_TRANSACTIONS_Tab

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Related Party Transactions	'
	Transactions with JBS USA and JBS USA, LLC (a JBS USA subsidiary) recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income are summarized below:
		Thirteen Weeks Ended		Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
		28-Sep-14	29-Sep-13	28-Sep-14	29-Sep-13
		(In thousands)
	JBS USA:
	Letter of credit fees(a)	335	513	1,005	1,697
	JBS USA, LLC:
	Purchases from JBS USA, LLC(b)	31,994	19,155	85,333	59,945
	Expenditures paid by JBS USA, LLC on behalf of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation(c)	2,099	11,281	21,013	34,659
	Sales to JBS USA, LLC(b)	2,763	13,996	36,234	49,263
	Expenditures paid by Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation on behalf of JBS USA, LLC(c)	891	630	2,197	1,313
	(a)	Beginning on October 26, 2011, JBS USA arranged for letters of credit to be issued on its account in the amount of $56.5 million to an insurance company on our behalf in order to allow that insurance company to return cash it held as collateral against potential liability claims. We agreed to reimburse JBS USA up to $56.5 million for potential draws upon these letters of credit. We reimburse JBS USA for the letter of credit costs we would have otherwise incurred under our credit facilities. During 2014, we have paid JBS USA $1.0 million for letter of credit costs. As of September 28, 2014, the Company has accrued an obligation of $0.1 million to reimburse JBS USA for letter of credit costs incurred on its behalf.
	(b)	We routinely execute transactions to both purchase products from JBS USA, LLC and sell products to them. As of September 28, 2014 and December 29, 2013, the outstanding payable to JBS USA, LLC was $2.0 million and $3.9 million, respectively. As of September 28, 2014 and December 29, 2013, the outstanding receivable from JBS USA, LLC was $0.2 million and $2.4 million, respectively. As of September 28, 2014, approximately $1.0 million of goods from JBS USA, LLC were in transit and not reflected on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.
	(c)	On January 19, 2010, the Company entered into an agreement with JBS USA, LLC in order to allocate costs associated with JBS USA, LLC's procurement of SAP licenses and maintenance services for its combined companies. Under this agreement, the fees associated with procuring SAP licenses and maintenance services are allocated between the Company and JBS USA, LLC in proportion to the percentage of licenses used by each company. The agreement expires on the date of expiration, or earlier termination, of the underlying SAP license agreement. On May 5, 2010, the Company also entered into an agreement with JBS USA, LLC in order to allocate the costs of supporting the business operations by one consolidated corporate team, which have historically been supported by their respective corporate teams. Expenditures paid by JBS USA, LLC on behalf of the Company will be reimbursed by the Company and expenditures paid by the Company on behalf of JBS USA, LLC will be reimbursed by JBS USA, LLC. This agreement expires on May 5, 2015.

SUPPLEMENTAL_GUARANTOR_FINANCI1

SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet	'
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
	28-Sep-14
			Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
							Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
			(In thousands)
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	604,990			$	—			$	263,607			$	—			$	868,597
	Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for		367,848				1,419				44,135				—				413,402
	doubtful accounts
	Account receivable from JBS USA, LLC		240				—				—				—				240
	Inventories		696,989				20,639				100,264				—				817,892
	Income taxes receivable		588				—				—				(588		)		—
	Current deferred tax assets		—				9,902				506				(8,181		)		2,227
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets		38,519				208				38,666				—				77,393
	Assets held for sale		1,419				—				—				—				1,419
	Total current assets		1,710,593				32,168				447,178				(8,769		)		2,181,170
	Intercompany receivable		(66,101		)		123,514				—				(57,413		)		—
	Investment in subsidiaries		669,742				—				—				(669,742		)		—
	Deferred tax assets		75,260				—				13,466				(3,513		)		85,213
	Other long-lived assets		29,741				—				181,025				(180,000		)		30,766
	Identified intangible assets, net		20,521				—				7,698				—				28,219
	Property, plant and equipment, net		1,029,532				45,682				109,966				(4,766		)		1,180,414
	Total assets		$	3,469,288			$	201,364			$	759,333			$	(924,203	)		$	3,505,782
	Accounts payable		318,106				17,501				48,172				—				383,779
	Account payable to JBS USA, LLC		1,969				—				—				—				1,969
	Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		246,759				37,318				23,076				—				307,153
	Income taxes payable		151,714				—				25,027				(588		)		176,153
	Current deferred tax liabilities		7,189				—				15,070				(7,189		)		15,070
	Current maturities of long-term debt		260				—				—				—				260
	Total current liabilities		725,997				54,819				111,345				(7,777		)		884,384
	Long-term debt, less current maturities		527,115				—				—				(25,000		)		502,115
	Intercompany payable		—				3,561				53,852				(57,413		)		—
	Deferred tax liabilities		—				4,204				301				(4,505		)		—
	Other long-term liabilities		85,140				—				3,350				—				88,490
	Total liabilities		1,338,252				62,584				168,848				(94,695		)		1,474,989
	Total Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation stockholders’		2,131,036				138,780				587,395				(829,508		)		2,027,703
	equity
	Noncontrolling interest		—				—				3,090				—				3,090
	Total stockholders’ equity		2,131,036				138,780				590,485				(829,508		)		2,030,793
	Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	3,469,288			$	201,364			$	759,333			$	(924,203	)		$	3,505,782
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
	29-Dec-13
		Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
						Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
		(In thousands)
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	413,092			$	—			$	95,114			$	—			$	508,206
	Investment in available-for-sale securities	96,902				—				—				—				96,902
	Trade accounts and other receivables, less	327,367				1,380				47,931				—				376,678
	allowance for doubtful accounts
	Account receivable from JBS USA, LLC	2,388				—				—				—				2,388
	Inventories	696,604				20,215				92,013				—				808,832
	Income taxes receivable	52,662				—				12,793				(587		)		64,868
	Current deferred tax assets	3,213				5,698				506				(7,190		)		2,227
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	34,881				270				26,697				—				61,848
	Assets held for sale	6,798				—				235				—				7,033
	Total current assets	1,633,907				27,563				275,289				(7,777		)		1,928,982
	Intercompany receivable	(64,772		)		114,707				—				(49,935		)		—
	Investment in subsidiaries	472,431				—				—				(472,431		)		—
	Deferred tax assets	5,995				—				18,924				(5,998		)		18,921
	Other long-lived assets	37,282				—				182,881				(180,000		)		40,163
	Identified intangible assets, net	23,463				—				9,062				—				32,525
	Property, plant and equipment, net	1,009,711				44,643				102,221				(4,764		)		1,151,811
	Total assets	$	3,118,017			$	186,913			$	588,377			$	(720,905	)		$	3,172,402
	Current maturities of long-term debt	$	410,234			$	—			$	—			$	—			$	410,234
Accounts payable	308,154				12,711				49,495				—				370,360
Account payable to JBS USA, LLC	3,934				—				—				—				3,934
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	269,062				33,821				(19,528		)		—				283,355
Income taxes payable	—				—				587				(587		)		—
Current deferred tax liabilities	7,190				—				15,515				(7,190		)		15,515
Total current liabilities	998,574				46,532				46,069				(7,777		)		1,083,398
Long-term debt, less current maturities	526,999				—				—				(25,000		)		501,999
Intercompany payable	—				—				49,935				(49,935		)		—
Deferred tax liabilities	13,944				5,698				297				(5,995		)		13,944
Other long-term liabilities	77,228				—				3,231				—				80,459
Total liabilities	1,616,745				52,230				99,532				(88,707		)		1,679,800
Total Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation stockholders’	1,501,272				134,683				486,061				(632,198		)		1,489,818
equity
Noncontrolling interest	—				—				2,784				—				2,784
Total stockholders’ equity	1,501,272				134,683				488,845				(632,198		)		1,492,602
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	3,118,017			$	186,913			$	588,377			$	(720,905	)		$	3,172,402
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations	'
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 28, 2014
			Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
							Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
			(In thousands)
	Net sales		$	1,844,929			$	121,540			$	276,394			$	25,185			$	2,268,048
	Cost of sales		1,453,490				124,940				214,168				25,185				1,817,783
	Gross profit (loss)		391,439				(3,400		)		62,226				—				450,265
	Selling, general and administrative expense		38,184				1,112				5,333				—				44,629
	Administrative restructuring charges		135				—				—				—				135
	Operating income (loss)		353,120				(4,512		)		56,893				—				405,501
	Interest expense, net		11,315				(48		)		105				—				11,372
	Interest income		(215		)		—				(956		)		—				(1,171		)
	Foreign currency transaction loss		—				—				6,414				—				6,414
	Miscellaneous, net		(1,815		)		1,447				(323		)		81				(610		)
	Income (loss) before income taxes		343,835				(5,911		)		51,653				(81		)		389,496
	Income tax expense (benefit)		118,146				(2,245		)		17,792				—				133,693
	Income (loss) before equity in earnings of		225,689				(3,666		)		33,861				(81		)		255,803
	consolidated subsidiaries
	Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries		30,295				—				—				(30,295		)		—
	Net income (loss)		255,984				(3,666		)		33,861				(30,376		)		255,803
	Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		—				—				(181		)		—				(181		)
	Net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride		$	255,984			$	(3,666	)		$	34,042			$	(30,376	)		$	255,984
	Corporation
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 29, 2013
			Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
							Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
			(In thousands)
	Net sales		$	1,889,353			$	132,942			$	245,372			$	(124,852	)		$	2,142,815
	Cost of sales		1,676,605				117,753				235,856				(123,972		)		1,906,242
	Gross profit		212,748				15,189				9,516				(880		)		236,573
	Selling, general and administrative expense		36,976				1,068				5,753				—				43,797
	Administrative restructuring charges		3,126				—				532				—				3,658
	Operating income		172,646				14,121				3,231				(880		)		189,118
	Interest expense, net		20,246				—				167				—				20,413
	Interest income		(8		)		—				(563		)		—				(571		)
	Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)		(1		)		—				2,683				—				2,682
	Miscellaneous, net		(1,508		)		1,260				(98		)		338				(8		)
	Income before income taxes		153,917				12,861				1,042				(1,218		)		166,602
	Income tax expense (benefit)		13,643				—				(8,065		)		—				5,578
	Income before equity in earnings of consolidated		140,274				12,861				9,107				(1,218		)		161,024
	subsidiaries
	Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries		20,643				—				—				(20,643		)		—
	Net income		160,917				12,861				9,107				(21,861		)		161,024
	Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling		—				—				107				—				107
	interest
	Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride		$	160,917			$	12,861			$	9,000			$	(21,861	)		$	160,917
	Corporation
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014
			Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
							Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
			(In thousands)
	Net sales		$	5,491,934			$	362,390			$	819,354			$	(200,749	)		$	6,472,929
	Cost of sales		4,660,153				344,707				653,972				(200,749		)		5,458,083
	Gross profit		831,781				17,683				165,382				—				1,014,846
	Selling, general and administrative expense		119,268				3,491				15,678				—				138,437
	Administrative restructuring charges		2,286				—				—				—				2,286
	Operating income		710,227				14,192				149,704				—				874,123
	Interest expense, net		45,114				(109		)		402				—				45,407
	Interest income		(522		)		—				(2,452		)		—				(2,974		)
	Foreign currency transaction loss		2				—				4,930				—				4,932
Miscellaneous, net		(7,090		)		5,034				(766		)		213				(2,609		)
Income before income taxes		672,723				9,267				147,590				(213		)		829,367
Income tax expense		233,478				5,171				46,283				—				284,932
Income before equity in earnings of consolidated		439,245				4,096				101,307				(213		)		544,435
subsidiaries
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries		105,216				—				—				(105,216		)		—
Net income		544,461				4,096				101,307				(105,429		)		544,435
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling		—				—				(26		)		—				(26		)
interest
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride		$	544,461			$	4,096			$	101,333			$	(105,429	)		$	544,461
Corporation
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 29, 2013
		Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
						Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
		(In thousands)
Net sales		$	5,538,779			$	404,360			$	801,270			$	(380,546	)		$	6,363,863
Cost of sales		5,059,584				366,769				679,661				(379,666		)		5,726,348
Gross profit		479,195				37,591				121,609				(880		)		637,515
Selling, general and administrative expense		111,473				3,187				17,228				—				131,888
Administrative restructuring charges		4,090				—				532				—				4,622
Operating income		363,632				34,404				103,849				(880		)		501,005
Interest expense, net		67,710				—				489				—				68,199
Interest income		(14		)		—				(1,480		)		—				(1,494		)
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)		(10		)		—				4,781				—				4,771
Miscellaneous, net		(5,254		)		3,569				435				520				(730		)
Income before income taxes		301,200				30,835				99,624				(1,400		)		430,259
Income tax expense		528				5,764				17,924				—				24,216
Income before equity in earnings of consolidated		300,672				25,071				81,700				(1,400		)		406,043
subsidiaries
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries		105,532				—				—				(105,532		)		—
Net income		406,204				25,071				81,700				(106,932		)		406,043
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		—				—				(161		)		—				(161		)
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride		$	406,204			$	25,071			$	81,861			$	(106,932	)		$	406,204
Corporation
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income	'
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 28, 2014
			Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
							Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
			(In thousands)
	Net income (loss)		$	255,984			$	(3,666	)		$	33,861			$	(30,376	)		$	255,803
	Other comprehensive loss:
	Gain associated with available-for-sale		17				—				—				—				17
	securities, net of tax
	Loss associated with pension and other		(653		)		—				—				—				(653		)
	postretirement benefits, net of tax
	Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax		(636		)		—				—				—				(636		)
	Comprehensive income (loss)		255,348				(3,666		)		33,861				(30,376		)		255,167
	Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to		—				—				(181		)		—				(181		)
	noncontrolling interests
	Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to		$	255,348			$	(3,666	)		$	34,042			$	(30,376	)		$	255,348
	Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
	Thirteen Weeks Ended September 29, 2013
			Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
							Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
			(In thousands)
	Net income		$	160,917			$	12,861			$	9,107			$	(21,861	)		$	161,024
	Other comprehensive income:
	Gains associated with pension and other		313				—				—				—				313
	postretirement benefits, net of tax
	Total other comprehensive income, net of tax		313				—				—				—				313
	Comprehensive income		161,230				12,861				9,107				(21,861		)		161,337
	Less: Comprehensive income attributable to		—				—				107				—				107
	noncontrolling interests
	Comprehensive income attributable to		$	161,230			$	12,861			$	9,000			$	(21,861	)		$	161,230
	Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014
			Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
							Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
			(In thousands)
	Net income		$	544,461			$	4,096			$	101,307			$	(105,429	)		$	544,435
	Other comprehensive loss:
	Loss associated with available-for-sale		(12		)		—				—				—				(12		)
	securities, net of tax
	Loss associated with pension and other		(10,068		)		—				—				—				(10,068		)
	postretirement benefits, net of tax
	Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax		(10,080		)		—				—				—				(10,080		)
	Comprehensive income		534,381				4,096				101,307				(105,429		)		534,355
	Less: Comprehensive income attributable to		—				—				(26		)		—				(26		)
	noncontrolling interests
	Comprehensive income attributable to		$	534,381			$	4,096			$	101,333			$	(105,429	)		$	534,381
	Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 29, 2013
			Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
							Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
			(In thousands)
	Net income		$	406,204			$	25,071			$	81,700			$	(106,932	)		$	406,043
	Other comprehensive income:
	Gains associated with pension and other		36,114				—				—				—				36,114
	postretirement benefits, net of tax
	Total other comprehensive income, net of tax		36,114				—				—				—				36,114
	Comprehensive income		442,318				25,071				81,700				(106,932		)		442,157
	Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to		—				—				(161		)		—				(161		)
	noncontrolling interests
	Comprehensive income attributable to		$	442,318			$	25,071			$	81,861			$	(106,932	)		$	442,318
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows	'
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014
			Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
							Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
			(In thousands)
	Cash provided by operating activities		$	608,674			$	5,441			$	188,506			$	(213	)		$	802,408
	Cash flows from investing activities:
	Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment		(109,071		)		(5,448		)		(16,830		)		—				(131,349		)
	Purchases of investment securities		(55,100		)		—				—				—				(55,100		)
	Proceeds from sale or maturity of investment securities		152,050				—				—				—				152,050
	Proceeds from property sales and disposals		5,544				7				2,871				—				8,422
	Cash used in investing activities		(6,577		)		(5,441		)		(13,959		)		—				(25,977		)
	Cash flows from financing activities:
	Payments on long-term debt		(410,199		)		—				—				—				(410,199		)
	Proceeds from sale of subsidiary common stock		—				—				332				—				332
	Other financing activities		—				—				(213		)		213				—
	Cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(410,199		)		—				119				213				(409,867		)
	Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		—				—				(6,173		)		—				(6,173		)
	Increase in cash and cash equivalents		191,898				—				168,493				—				360,391
	Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		413,092				—				95,114				—				508,206
	Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		$	604,990			$	—			$	263,607			$	—			$	868,597
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 29, 2013
			Parent				Subsidiary				Subsidiary				Eliminations/				Consolidation
							Guarantor				Non-Guarantors				Adjustments
			(In thousands)
	Cash provided by operating activities		$	551,027			$	4,235			$	41,974			$	(520	)		$	596,716
	Cash flows from investing activities:
	Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment		(63,298		)		(4,240		)		(8,755		)		—				(76,293		)
	Proceeds from property sales and disposals		2,288				5				1,037				—				3,330
	Cash used in investing activities		(61,010		)		(4,235		)		(7,718		)		—				(72,963		)
	Cash flows from financing activities:
	Proceeds from long-term debt		505,600				—				—				—				505,600
	Payments on long-term debt		(758,283		)		—				—				—				(758,283		)
	Payment of capitalized loan costs		(5,006		)		—				—				—				(5,006		)
	Other financing activities		—				—				(520		)		520				—
	Cash used in financing activities		(257,689		)		—				(520		)		520				(257,689		)
	Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		—				—				(3,928		)		—				(3,928		)
	Increase in cash and cash equivalents		232,328				—				29,808				—				262,136
	Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		27,657				—				40,523				—				68,180
	Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		$	259,985			$	—			$	70,331			$	—			$	330,316

DESCRIPTION_OF_BUSINESS_AND_BA2

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
	segment
	grower
	country
	lb
	state
	employee
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Number of countries in which entity exports products	80
Number of states in which entity operates	12
Number of employees	35,400
Maximum processing capacity of employees per week (in birds)	34,000,000
Maximum annual processing capacity of employees (in pounds)	10,000,000,000
Number of contract growers	3,750
Percentage of beneficial ownership by holding company	75.50%
Number of reportable segments	1

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Schedu

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Schedule of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis) (Details) (Recurring [Member], USD $)	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013	Sep. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Short-term investments in available-for-sale securities	'	$96,902	'	'
Deferred compensation plan assets	7,218	7,208	'	'
Public Bonds and Notes [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements	525,335	552,592	'	'
Term Notes [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements	'	424,650	'	'
Capitalized Lease Obligations [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements	627	704	'	'
Commodity Futures Instruments [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Derivative assets	5,125	1,494	'	'
Derivative liabilities, gross	-5,350	-1,728	'	'
Commodity Options Instruments [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Derivative assets	62	1,395	'	'
Derivative liabilities, gross	-1,013	'	'	'
Foreign Currency Futures Instruments [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Derivative assets	1,278	1,214	'	'
Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Short-term investments in available-for-sale securities	'	0	'	'
Deferred compensation plan assets	7,218	7,208	'	'
Level 1 [Member] | Public Bonds and Notes [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements	525,335	552,592	'	'
Level 1 [Member] | Term Notes [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements	'	0	'	'
Level 1 [Member] | Capitalized Lease Obligations [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements	0	0	'	'
Level 1 [Member] | Commodity Futures Instruments [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Derivative assets	5,125	1,494	'	'
Derivative liabilities, gross	-5,350	-1,728	'	'
Level 1 [Member] | Commodity Options Instruments [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Derivative assets	0	0	'	'
Derivative liabilities, gross	0	'	'	'
Level 1 [Member] | Foreign Currency Futures Instruments [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Derivative assets	1,278	1,214	'	'
Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Short-term investments in available-for-sale securities	'	96,902	'	'
Deferred compensation plan assets	0	0	'	'
Level 2 [Member] | Public Bonds and Notes [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements	0	0	'	'
Level 2 [Member] | Term Notes [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements	'	0	'	'
Level 2 [Member] | Capitalized Lease Obligations [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements	0	0	'	'
Level 2 [Member] | Commodity Futures Instruments [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Derivative assets	0	0	'	'
Derivative liabilities, gross	0	0	'	'
Level 2 [Member] | Commodity Options Instruments [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Derivative assets	62	1,395	'	'
Derivative liabilities, gross	-1,013	'	'	'
Level 2 [Member] | Foreign Currency Futures Instruments [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Derivative assets	0	0	'	'
Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Short-term investments in available-for-sale securities	'	0	'	'
Deferred compensation plan assets	0	0	'	'
Level 3 [Member] | Public Bonds and Notes [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements	0	0	'	'
Level 3 [Member] | Term Notes [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements	0	424,650	426,861	686,435
Level 3 [Member] | Capitalized Lease Obligations [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements	627	704	788	880
Level 3 [Member] | Commodity Futures Instruments [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Derivative assets	0	0	'	'
Derivative liabilities, gross	0	0	'	'
Level 3 [Member] | Commodity Options Instruments [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Derivative assets	0	0	'	'
Derivative liabilities, gross	0	'	'	'
Level 3 [Member] | Foreign Currency Futures Instruments [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Derivative assets	$0	$0	'	'

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Schedu1

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Schedule of Change in Value of Level 3 Liabilities) (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended					9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Dec. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013
			Recurring [Member]	Recurring [Member]	Recurring [Member]	Recurring [Member]	Recurring [Member]	Recurring [Member]	Recurring [Member]
			Term Notes and Revolver [Member]	Capitalized Lease Obligations [Member]	Capitalized Lease Obligations [Member]	Level 3 [Member]	Level 3 [Member]	Level 3 [Member]	Level 3 [Member]
						Term Notes and Revolver [Member]	Term Notes and Revolver [Member]	Capitalized Lease Obligations [Member]	Capitalized Lease Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Balance, beginning of period	'	'	$424,650	$627	$704	$424,650	$686,435	$704	$880
Borrowings	0	505,600	'	'	'	0	509,500	0	0
Payments	'	'	'	'	'	-410,099	-762,091	-100	-92
Change in fair value inputs	'	'	'	'	'	-14,551	-6,983	23	0
Balance, end of period	'	'	$424,650	$627	$704	$0	$426,861	$627	$788

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Schedu2

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Schedule of Carrying Amounts and Estimated Fair Values of Financial Assets and Liabilities) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Carrying Amount [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments in available-for-sale securities	$0	$96,902
Deferred compensation plan assets	7,218	7,208
Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements	-502,376	-912,233
Fair Value [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments in available-for-sale securities	0	96,902
Deferred compensation plan assets	7,218	7,208
Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements	-525,962	-977,946
Commodity Futures Instruments [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative assets	5,125	1,494
Derivative liabilities, gross	-5,350	-1,728
Commodity Futures Instruments [Member] | Fair Value [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative assets	5,125	1,494
Derivative liabilities, gross	-5,350	-1,728
Commodity Options Instruments [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative assets	62	1,395
Derivative liabilities, gross	-1,013	0
Commodity Options Instruments [Member] | Fair Value [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative assets	62	1,395
Derivative liabilities, gross	-1,013	0
Foreign Currency Futures Instruments [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative assets	1,278	1,214
Foreign Currency Futures Instruments [Member] | Fair Value [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative assets	$1,278	$1,214

TRADE_ACCOUNTS_AND_OTHER_RECEI2

TRADE ACCOUNTS AND OTHER RECEIVABLES (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accounts Receivable, Net [Abstract]	'	'
Trade accounts receivable	$405,520	$369,715
Account receivable from JBS USA, LLC	240	2,388
Employee receivables	0	14
Notes receivable - current	1,145	0
Other receivables	9,467	11,005
Receivables, gross	416,372	383,122
Allowance for doubtful accounts	-2,730	-4,056
Receivables, net	$413,642	$379,066

INVENTORIES_Details

INVENTORIES (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventory [Line Items]	'	'
Total inventories	$817,892	$808,832
Live Chicken and Hens [Member]	'	'
Inventory [Line Items]	'	'
Total inventories	384,120	368,582
Feed, Eggs and Other [Member]	'	'
Inventory [Line Items]	'	'
Total inventories	213,035	216,045
Finished Chicken Products [Member]	'	'
Inventory [Line Items]	'	'
Total inventories	220,157	223,932
Chicken Inventories [Member]	'	'
Inventory [Line Items]	'	'
Total inventories	817,312	808,559
Commercial Feed and Other [Member]	'	'
Inventory [Line Items]	'	'
Total inventories	$580	$273

INVESTMENTS_IN_SECURITIES_Deta

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013
				Fixed income securities [Member]	Fixed income securities [Member]	Other [Member]	Other [Member]	Fixed income securities [Member]	Fixed income securities [Member]
Fixed income securities, Amortized Cost	'	'	'	$433,413,000	$103,121,000	$19,577,000	$56,000	$0	$96,902,000
Fixed income securities, Fair Value	'	'	'	433,413,000	103,124,000	19,577,000	56,000	0	96,902,000
Realized gain on sale of securities	100,000	0	300,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Realized loss on sale of securities	$7,700	'	$8,100	'	'	'	'	'	'

DERIVATIVE_FINANCIAL_INSTRUMEN2

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Net gains (losses) on derivative financial instruments	$28	$8	$14	$21.90

DERIVATIVE_FINANCIAL_INSTRUMEN3

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Schedule of Outstanding Derivative Instruments and Cash Collateral) (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014		Dec. 29, 2013
Fair values:	'		'
Cash collateral posted with brokers	8,040		4,142
Corn [Member]	'		'
Derivatives Coverage:	'		'
Derivatives coverage (as a percentage)	2.00%	[1]	1.10%	[1]
Period through which stated percent of needs are covered:	'		'
Maturity date	31-Jul-16	[1]	30-Sep-15	[1]
Soybean Meal [Member]	'		'
Derivatives Coverage:	'		'
Derivatives coverage (as a percentage)	1.30%	[1]	-3.60%	[1]
Period through which stated percent of needs are covered:	'		'
Maturity date	31-Jul-15	[1]	31-Jul-14	[1]
Commodity [Member]	'		'
Fair values:	'		'
Derivative assets, gross	5,187		2,889
Derivative liabilities, gross	-6,363		-1,728
Foreign Currency [Member]	'		'
Fair values:	'		'
Derivative assets, gross	1,278		1,214
[1]	Derivatives coverage is the percent of anticipated commodity needs covered by outstanding derivative instruments through a specified date.

PROPERTY_PLANT_AND_EQUIPMENT_N

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Dec. 29, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation	$33,900,000	$34,300,000	$101,100,000	$102,300,000	'
Payments for capital projects	'	'	131,349,000	76,293,000	'
Transfer of property, plant and equipment	'	'	67,300,000	'	'
Proceeds from property disposals	4,100,000	400,000	8,422,000	3,330,000	'
Gain (loss) on property disposals	-26,700	100,000	1,100,000	2,000,000	'
Assets held for sale	1,419,000	'	1,419,000	'	7,033,000
Idled assets property, plant and equipment, net	73,000,000	'	73,000,000	'	'
Idled asset property, plant and equipment gross	184,600,000	'	184,600,000	'	'
Idled asset accumulated depreciation	$111,600,000	'	$111,600,000	'	'

PROPERTY_PLANT_AND_EQUIPMENT_S

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
PP&E, gross	$2,865,239	$2,769,603
Accumulated depreciation	-1,684,825	-1,617,792
PP&E, net	1,180,414	1,151,811
Land [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
PP&E, gross	66,283	66,071
Buildings [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
PP&E, gross	1,083,380	1,077,859
Machinery and equipment [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
PP&E, gross	1,530,264	1,502,968
Autos and trucks [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
PP&E, gross	55,083	55,779
Construction-in-progress [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
PP&E, gross	$130,229	$66,926

CURRENT_LIABILITIES_Details

CURRENT LIABILITIES (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accounts payable:	'	'
Trade accounts	$331,832	$313,266
Book overdrafts	50,045	55,378
Other payables	1,902	1,716
Total accounts payable	383,779	370,360
Accounts payable to JBS USA, LLC	1,969	3,934
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities:	'	'
Compensation and benefits	106,329	100,965
Interest and debt-related fees	12,094	7,558
Insurance and self-insured claims	88,679	99,244
Derivative liabilities:	'	'
Other accrued expenses	93,689	73,859
Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities	307,153	283,355
Total accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities	692,901	657,649
Futures [Member]	'	'
Derivative liabilities:	'	'
Derivative liabilities	5,350	1,729
Options [Member]	'	'
Derivative liabilities:	'	'
Derivative liabilities	$1,012	$0

LONGTERM_DEBT_AND_OTHER_BORROW2

LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER BORROWING ARRANGEMENTS (Narrative) (Details)

Sep. 28, 2014

Dec. 29, 2013

Sep. 28, 2014

Sep. 28, 2014

Sep. 28, 2014

Sep. 28, 2014

Sep. 28, 2014

Jul. 23, 2014

Jul. 23, 2014

Sep. 28, 2014

Dec. 29, 2013

Sep. 28, 2014

Jun. 23, 2011

Sep. 28, 2014

Sep. 28, 2014

Jun. 23, 2011

Aug. 07, 2013

Dec. 28, 2009

Sep. 28, 2014

Sep. 28, 2014

Sep. 28, 2014

Sep. 28, 2014

Sep. 28, 2014

Dec. 29, 2013

Sep. 28, 2014

Apr. 28, 2014

Sep. 28, 2014

Dec. 29, 2013

Sep. 28, 2014

USD ($)

USD ($)

Foreign Subsidiaries [Member]

US and Puerto Rico Subsidiaries [Member]

7.625% Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2015 [Member]

8.375% Senior Subordinated Unsecured Notes Due 2017 [Member]

Line of Credit [Member]

Line of Credit [Member]

Line of Credit [Member]

Senior Notes [Member]

Senior Notes [Member]

Senior Subordinated and Unsecured Notes [Member]

Subordinated Loan [Member]

Letter Of Credit [Member]

Letter Of Credit [Member]

Letter Of Credit [Member]

Us Credit Facility [Member]

Us Credit Facility [Member]

Us Credit Facility [Member]

Term B Loan [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility and Term B Facility [Member]

Line Of Credit Sublimit Swingline Loans [Member]

Us Credit Facility Letters Of Credit [Member]

U.S. Credit Facility Term Note Payable B1 [Member]

U.S. Credit Facility Term Note Payable B1 [Member]

U.S. Credit Facility Term Note Payable B2 [Member]

U.S. Credit Facility Term Note Payable B2 [Member]

U.S. Credit Facility Term Note Payable B2 [Member]

Us Credit Facility Revolving Loan [Member]

Loan Commitment Under Mexico ING Credit Facility [Member]

Loan Commitment Under Mexico ING Credit Facility [Member]

Loan Commitment Under Mexico ING Credit Facility [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

JBS USA [Member]

JBS USA [Member]

JBS USA [Member]

JBS USA [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

MXN

TIIE Rate [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Aggregate principal balance

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$500,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Long-term debt

502,375,000

912,233,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

498,098,000

497,757,000

3,600,000

'

100,000

100,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

20,100,000

204,880,000

0

'

0

205,219,000

'

Stated interest rate

'

'

'

'

7.63%

8.38%

'

'

'

7.88%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.44%

'

9.00%

'

'

Agreed repayment of debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

56,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Credit facility availed

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

56,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maximum borrowing capacity

'

'

'

'

'

'

41,700,000

560,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

700,000,000

'

1,850,000,000

100,000,000

200,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Repayments of lines of credit

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

300,000

1,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Delayed Draw Term Loan, Maximum amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

400,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Available increase to aggregate revolving loan commitment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

250,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Delayed Draw Term Loan, Increase in maximum amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

500,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Periodic payments as a percentage of principal outstanding

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.88%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maturity date

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

28-Dec-14

7-Aug-18

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Payment of capitalized loan costs

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5,000,000

50,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Repayments of debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

204,900,000

'

205,200,000

'

'

'

Current borrowing capacity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

679,900,000

Maximum credit facility capital expenditures

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

350,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of equity interest guaranteed for debt

'

'

65.00%

100.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Basis spread on variable rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.05%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Outstanding borrowings

'

'

'

'

'

'

$0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$0

LONGTERM_DEBT_AND_OTHER_BORROW3

LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER BORROWING ARRANGEMENTS (Schedule of Long-term Debt and Other Borrowing Arrangments) (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	$502,375	$912,233
Less: Current maturities of long-term debt	-260	-410,234
Long-term debt, less current maturities	502,115	501,999
Senior Notes [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Maturity	'2018	'
Long-term debt	498,098	497,757
U.S. Credit Facility Term Note Payable B1 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Maturity	'2014	'
Long-term debt	0	204,880
U.S. Credit Facility Term Note Payable B2 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Maturity	'2014	'
Long-term debt	0	205,219
Other Long Term Debt [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Maturity	'Various	'
Long-term debt	$4,277	$4,377

INCOME_TAXES_Details

INCOME TAXES (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Income tax expense	$133,693	$5,578	$284,932	$24,216
Effective income tax rate	'	'	34.40%	5.60%
Gain (loss) associated with pension and other postretirement benefits, tax	$396	$0	$6,105	$0

PENSION_AND_OTHER_POSTRETIREME2

PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Expenses recognized under all of these retirement plans	$1.50	$1.90	$4.30	$5.70
Contributions to defined benefit plans	$8.20	'	$11.60	'

PENSION_AND_OTHER_POSTRETIREME3

PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS (Schedule of Net Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Costs) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013
Pension Benefits [Member]	'	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Service cost	$0	($20)	$0	$0
Interest cost	2,026	1,988	6,078	5,965
Estimated return on plan assets	-1,593	-1,349	-4,780	-4,048
Amortization of net loss (gain)	14	250	42	751
Net costs	447	869	1,340	2,668
Other Benefits [Member]	'	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Service cost	0	0	0	0
Interest cost	20	20	60	59
Estimated return on plan assets	0	0	0	0
Amortization of net loss (gain)	0	0	0	0
Net costs	$20	$20	$60	$59

STOCKHOLDERS_EQUITY_Schedule_o

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Schedule of Changes in Unrealized Actuarial Losses) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014		Sep. 29, 2013		Sep. 28, 2014		Sep. 29, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Of Tax [Roll Forward]	'		'		'		'
Balance, beginning of period	'		'		($45,735)	[1]	'
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	'		'		-9,925	[1]	'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income	'		'		-155	[1]	'
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-636		313		-10,080	[1]	36,114
Balance, end of period	-55,815	[1]	'		-55,815	[1]	'
Losses Related to Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]	'		'		'		'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Of Tax [Roll Forward]	'		'		'		'
Balance, beginning of period	'		'		-45,797	[1]	-68,511	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	'		'		-10,094	[1]	35,363	[1]
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income	'		'		26	[1]	751	[1]
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	'		'		-10,068	[1]	36,114	[1]
Balance, end of period	-55,865	[1]	-32,397	[1]	-55,865	[1]	-32,397	[1]
Unrealized Holding Gains on Available-for-Sale Securities [Member]	'		'		'		'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Of Tax [Roll Forward]	'		'		'		'
Balance, beginning of period	'		'		62	[1]	'
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	'		'		169	[1]	'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income	'		'		-181	[1]	'
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	'		'		-12	[1]	'
Balance, end of period	$50	[1]	'		$50	[1]	'
[1]	All amounts are net of tax. Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to accumulated other comprehensive loss.

STOCKHOLDERS_EQUITY_Schedule_o1

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Schedule of Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss) (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014		Sep. 29, 2013
Amortization of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plan actuarial losses:	'		'
Total reclassification for the period	$155	[1]	'
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	'		'
Amortization of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plan actuarial losses:	'		'
Total before tax	248	[2]	-751	[2]
Tax benefit (expense)	-93	[2]	0	[2]
Total reclassification for the period	155	[2]	-751	[2]
Realized gain on sale of securities	290	[2]	0	[2]
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member] | Union Plan [Member]	'		'
Amortization of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plan actuarial losses:	'		'
Total before tax	0	[2],[3],[4]	-27	[2],[3],[4]
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member] | Legacy Gold Kist Plans [Member]	'		'
Amortization of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plan actuarial losses:	'		'
Total before tax	($42)	[2],[3],[5]	($724)	[2],[3],[5]
[1]	All amounts are net of tax. Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to accumulated other comprehensive loss.
[2]	Amounts in parentheses represent debits to results of operations.
[3]	These accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See “Note 11. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits” to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
[4]	The Company sponsors the Pilgrim's Pride Retirement Plan for Union Employees, a qualified defined benefit pension plan covering certain locations or work groups with collective bargaining agreements.
[5]	The Company sponsors the Pilgrim's Pride Plan for Legacy Gold Kist Employees, a qualified defined benefit pension plan covering certain eligible U.S. employees who were employed at locations that the Company purchased through its acquisition of Gold Kist in 2007, the Former Gold Kist Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, a nonqualified defined benefit retirement plan covering certain former Gold Kist executives, the Former Gold Kist Inc. Directors' Emeriti Plan, a nonqualified defined benefit retirement plan covering certain former Gold Kist directors, and the Gold Kist Inc. Retiree Life Insurance Plan, a defined benefit postretirement life insurance plan covering certain retired Gold Kist employees.

INCENTIVE_COMPENSATION_Narrati

INCENTIVE COMPENSATION (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'
Total unrecognized compensation cost related to all nonvested awards	$7.10	'
Weighted average period unrecognized compensation cost is expected to be recognized	'2 years 0 months 18 days	'
Fair value of shares vested in period	1.1	0.7
Incentive Plan [Member]	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'
Accrued in costs related to the STIP	$22.60	'
Reserved shares of common stock for future issuance under the LTIP	6.6	'

INCENTIVE_COMPENSATION_Schedul

INCENTIVE COMPENSATION (Schedule of Awards) (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014
RSA 1 [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Award Quantity	100,000
Grant Date	14-Jan-11
Vesting Date	3-Jan-14
Estimated Forfeiture Rate	0.00%
RSA 2 [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Award Quantity	72,675
Grant Date	27-Aug-12
Vesting Date	27-Apr-14
Estimated Forfeiture Rate	0.00%
RSU 1 [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Award Quantity	608,561
Grant Date	4-Feb-13
Vesting Date	31-Dec-14
Estimated Forfeiture Rate	9.66%
RSA 3 [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Award Quantity	15,000
Grant Date	25-Feb-13
Vesting Date	24-Feb-15
Estimated Forfeiture Rate	0.00%
RSA 4 [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Award Quantity	15,000
Grant Date	25-Feb-13
Vesting Date	24-Feb-16
Estimated Forfeiture Rate	0.00%
RSU 2 [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Award Quantity	206,933
Grant Date	26-Feb-13
Vesting Date	31-Dec-14
Estimated Forfeiture Rate	0.00%
RSU 3 [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Award Quantity	462,518
Grant Date	19-Feb-14
Vesting Date	31-Dec-16
Estimated Forfeiture Rate	13.49%

INCENTIVE_COMPENSATION_Schedul1

INCENTIVE COMPENSATION (Schedule of Compensation Cost and Income Tax Benefit) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total share-based compensation costs	$1,127	$813	$3,504	$2,415
Income tax benefit	156	151	672	488
Cost of goods sold [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total share-based compensation costs	60	102	231	255
Selling, general and administrative expenses [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total share-based compensation costs	$1,067	$711	$3,273	$2,160

INCENTIVE_COMPENSATION_Schedul2

INCENTIVE COMPENSATION (Schedule of Restricted Share and Restricted Stock Unit Activity) (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013
Restricted Stock Awards (RSA) [Member]	'	'
Number	'	'
Outstanding at beginning of period	203	273
Granted	0	30
Vested	-173	-100
Outstanding at end of period	30	203
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	'	'
Outstanding at beginning of period	$6.59	$6.54
Granted	$0	$8.72
Vested	$6.22	$7.10
Outstanding at end of period	$8.72	$6.59
Restricted Stock Units (RSU) [Member]	'	'
Number	'	'
Outstanding at beginning of period	729	0
Granted	462	815
Vested	0	0
Forfeited	-71	-72
Outstanding at end of period	1,120	743
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	'	'
Outstanding at beginning of period	$8.81	$0
Granted	$16.70	$8.82
Vested	$0	$0
Forfeited	$10.34	$8.89
Outstanding at end of period	$11.97	$8.81

RELATED_PARTY_TRANSACTIONS_Nar

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2014

Dec. 29, 2013

Sep. 28, 2014

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 28, 2014

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 28, 2014

Oct. 26, 2011

Jun. 13, 2014

Jun. 13, 2013

JBS USA, LLC [Member]

JBS USA, LLC [Member]

JBS USA, LLC [Member]

JBS USA, LLC [Member]

JBS USA, LLC [Member]

JBS USA, LLC [Member]

Incubadora and PPSRLCV [Member]

Incubadora and PPSRLCV [Member]

Letter Of Credit [Member]

Letter Of Credit [Member]

Inventory Purchase Agreement [Member]

Inventory Purchase Agreement [Member]

Related Party Transaction [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of beneficial ownership by holding company

75.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt issued

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$56,500,000

'

'

Agreed repayment of debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

56,500,000

'

'

Repayments of lines of credit

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,000,000

'

'

'

Accounts payable to JBS USA, LLC

1,969,000

3,934,000

'

'

'

'

100,000

'

'

'

Accounts receivable from JBS USA, LLC

240,000

2,388,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Goods in transit

'

'

1,000,000

'

1,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

Non-refundable advance received

'

'

($2,099,000)

[1]

($11,281,000)

[1]

($21,013,000)

[1]

($34,659,000)

[1]

'

'

'

$100,000,000

Discount rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3.21%

2.19%

[1]

On January 19, 2010, the Company entered into an agreement with JBS USA, LLC in order to allocate costs associated with JBS USA, LLC's procurement of SAP licenses and maintenance services for its combined companies. Under this agreement, the fees associated with procuring SAP licenses and maintenance services are allocated between the Company and JBS USA, LLC in proportion to the percentage of licenses used by each company. The agreement expires on the date of expiration, or earlier termination, of the underlying SAP license agreement. On May 5, 2010, the Company also entered into an agreement with JBS USA, LLC in order to allocate the costs of supporting the business operations by one consolidated corporate team, which have historically been supported by their respective corporate teams. Expenditures paid by JBS USA, LLC on behalf of the Company will be reimbursed by the Company and expenditures paid by the Company on behalf of JBS USA, LLC will be reimbursed by JBS USA, LLC. This agreement expires on May 5, 2015.

RELATED_PARTY_TRANSACTIONS_Sch

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Schedule of Related Party Transactions) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014		Sep. 29, 2013		Sep. 28, 2014		Sep. 29, 2013
JBS USA [Member]	'		'		'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Related party interest	$335	[1]	$513	[1]	$1,005	[1]	$1,697	[1]
JBS USA, LLC [Member]	'		'		'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Purchases from related parties	31,994	[2]	19,155	[2]	85,333	[2]	59,945	[2]
Expenditures paid	2,099	[3]	11,281	[3]	21,013	[3]	34,659	[3]
Sales to related party	2,763	[2]	13,996	[2]	36,234	[2]	49,263	[2]
JBS USA, LLC [Member] | Expenses Paid By Company On Behalf Of Related Party [Member]	'		'		'		'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Expenditures paid	$891	[3]	$630	[3]	$2,197	[3]	$1,313	[3]
[1]	Beginning on October 26, 2011, JBS USA arranged for letters of credit to be issued on its account in the amount of $56.5 million to an insurance company on our behalf in order to allow that insurance company to return cash it held as collateral against potential liability claims. We agreed to reimburse JBS USA up to $56.5 million for potential draws upon these letters of credit. We reimburse JBS USA for the letter of credit costs we would have otherwise incurred under our credit facilities. During 2014, we have paid JBS USA $1.0 million for letter of credit costs. As of September 28, 2014, the Company has accrued an obligation of $0.1 million to reimburse JBS USA for letter of credit costs incurred on its behalf.
[2]	We routinely execute transactions to both purchase products from JBS USA, LLC and sell products to them. As of September 28, 2014 and December 29, 2013, the outstanding payable to JBS USA, LLC was $2.0 million and $3.9 million, respectively. As of September 28, 2014 and December 29, 2013, the outstanding receivable from JBS USA, LLC was $0.2 million and $2.4 million, respectively. As of September 28, 2014, approximately $1.0 million of goods from JBS USA, LLC were in transit and not reflected on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.
[3]	On January 19, 2010, the Company entered into an agreement with JBS USA, LLC in order to allocate costs associated with JBS USA, LLC's procurement of SAP licenses and maintenance services for its combined companies. Under this agreement, the fees associated with procuring SAP licenses and maintenance services are allocated between the Company and JBS USA, LLC in proportion to the percentage of licenses used by each company. The agreement expires on the date of expiration, or earlier termination, of the underlying SAP license agreement. On May 5, 2010, the Company also entered into an agreement with JBS USA, LLC in order to allocate the costs of supporting the business operations by one consolidated corporate team, which have historically been supported by their respective corporate teams. Expenditures paid by JBS USA, LLC on behalf of the Company will be reimbursed by the Company and expenditures paid by the Company on behalf of JBS USA, LLC will be reimbursed by JBS USA, LLC. This agreement expires on May 5, 2015.

COMMITMENTS_AND_CONTINGENCIES_

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 12, 2012	31-May-10	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
	ERISA Litigation [Member]	Due To Internal Revenue Service [Member]	Due To Internal Revenue Service [Member]	Due To Internal Revenue Service [Member]	Due To Internal Revenue Service [Member]	Due To Internal Revenue Service [Member]
	Minimum [Member]			Proceeding Accounts [Member]	Loss Contingencies Awarded Original Value [Member]	Loss Contingencies Awarded Revised Value [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Damages awarded	'	'	'	'	$25,800,000	$25,600,000
Damages sought	$35,000,000	$29,300,000	$74,700,000	$45,400,000	'	'

SUPPLEMENTAL_GUARANTOR_FINANCI2

SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013	Sep. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$868,597	$508,206	$330,316	$68,180
Investment in available-for-sale securities	0	96,902	'	'
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	413,402	376,678	'	'
Account receivable from JBS USA, LLC	240	2,388	'	'
Inventories	817,892	808,832	'	'
Income taxes receivable	0	64,868	'	'
Current deferred tax assets	2,227	2,227	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	77,393	61,848	'	'
Assets held for sale	1,419	7,033	'	'
Total current assets	2,181,170	1,928,982	'	'
Intercompany receivable	0	0	'	'
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0	'	'
Deferred tax assets	85,213	18,921	'	'
Other long-lived assets	30,766	40,163	'	'
Identified intangible assets, net	28,219	32,525	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,180,414	1,151,811	'	'
Total assets	3,505,782	3,172,402	'	'
Accounts payable	383,779	370,360	'	'
Accounts payable to JBS USA, LLC	1,969	3,934	'	'
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	307,153	283,355	'	'
Income taxes payable	176,153	0	'	'
Current deferred tax liabilities	15,070	15,515	'	'
Current maturities of long-term debt	260	410,234	'	'
Total current liabilities	884,384	1,083,398	'	'
Long-term debt, less current maturities	502,115	501,999	'	'
Intercompany payable	0	0	'	'
Deferred tax liabilities	0	13,944	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	88,490	80,459	'	'
Total liabilities	1,474,989	1,679,800	'	'
Total Pilgrim's Pride Corporation stockholders' equity	2,027,703	1,489,818	'	'
Noncontrolling interest	3,090	2,784	'	'
Total stockholders’ equity	2,030,793	1,492,602	1,353,569	908,997
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,505,782	3,172,402	'	'
Eliminations/Adjustments [Member]	'	'	'	'
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Investment in available-for-sale securities	'	0	'	'
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	0	0	'	'
Account receivable from JBS USA, LLC	0	0	'	'
Inventories	0	0	'	'
Income taxes receivable	-588	-587	'	'
Current deferred tax assets	-8,181	-7,190	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	0	0	'	'
Assets held for sale	0	0	'	'
Total current assets	-8,769	-7,777	'	'
Intercompany receivable	-57,413	-49,935	'	'
Investment in subsidiaries	-669,742	-472,431	'	'
Deferred tax assets	-3,513	-5,998	'	'
Other long-lived assets	-180,000	-180,000	'	'
Identified intangible assets, net	0	0	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	-4,766	-4,764	'	'
Total assets	-924,203	-720,905	'	'
Accounts payable	0	0	'	'
Accounts payable to JBS USA, LLC	0	0	'	'
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	0	0	'	'
Income taxes payable	-588	-587	'	'
Current deferred tax liabilities	-7,189	-7,190	'	'
Current maturities of long-term debt	0	0	'	'
Total current liabilities	-7,777	-7,777	'	'
Long-term debt, less current maturities	-25,000	-25,000	'	'
Intercompany payable	-57,413	-49,935	'	'
Deferred tax liabilities	-4,505	-5,995	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	0	0	'	'
Total liabilities	-94,695	-88,707	'	'
Total Pilgrim's Pride Corporation stockholders' equity	-829,508	-632,198	'	'
Noncontrolling interest	0	0	'	'
Total stockholders’ equity	-829,508	-632,198	'	'
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	-924,203	-720,905	'	'
Parent [Member]	'	'	'	'
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	604,990	413,092	259,985	27,657
Investment in available-for-sale securities	'	96,902	'	'
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	367,848	327,367	'	'
Account receivable from JBS USA, LLC	240	2,388	'	'
Inventories	696,989	696,604	'	'
Income taxes receivable	588	52,662	'	'
Current deferred tax assets	0	3,213	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	38,519	34,881	'	'
Assets held for sale	1,419	6,798	'	'
Total current assets	1,710,593	1,633,907	'	'
Intercompany receivable	-66,101	-64,772	'	'
Investment in subsidiaries	669,742	472,431	'	'
Deferred tax assets	75,260	5,995	'	'
Other long-lived assets	29,741	37,282	'	'
Identified intangible assets, net	20,521	23,463	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,029,532	1,009,711	'	'
Total assets	3,469,288	3,118,017	'	'
Accounts payable	318,106	308,154	'	'
Accounts payable to JBS USA, LLC	1,969	3,934	'	'
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	246,759	269,062	'	'
Income taxes payable	151,714	0	'	'
Current deferred tax liabilities	7,189	7,190	'	'
Current maturities of long-term debt	260	410,234	'	'
Total current liabilities	725,997	998,574	'	'
Long-term debt, less current maturities	527,115	526,999	'	'
Intercompany payable	0	0	'	'
Deferred tax liabilities	0	13,944	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	85,140	77,228	'	'
Total liabilities	1,338,252	1,616,745	'	'
Total Pilgrim's Pride Corporation stockholders' equity	2,131,036	1,501,272	'	'
Noncontrolling interest	0	0	'	'
Total stockholders’ equity	2,131,036	1,501,272	'	'
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,469,288	3,118,017	'	'
Subsidiary Guarantor [Member]	'	'	'	'
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	'	0
Investment in available-for-sale securities	'	0	'	'
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	1,419	1,380	'	'
Account receivable from JBS USA, LLC	0	0	'	'
Inventories	20,639	20,215	'	'
Income taxes receivable	0	0	'	'
Current deferred tax assets	9,902	5,698	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	208	270	'	'
Assets held for sale	0	0	'	'
Total current assets	32,168	27,563	'	'
Intercompany receivable	123,514	114,707	'	'
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0	'	'
Deferred tax assets	0	0	'	'
Other long-lived assets	0	0	'	'
Identified intangible assets, net	0	0	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	45,682	44,643	'	'
Total assets	201,364	186,913	'	'
Accounts payable	17,501	12,711	'	'
Accounts payable to JBS USA, LLC	0	0	'	'
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	37,318	33,821	'	'
Income taxes payable	0	0	'	'
Current deferred tax liabilities	0	0	'	'
Current maturities of long-term debt	0	0	'	'
Total current liabilities	54,819	46,532	'	'
Long-term debt, less current maturities	0	0	'	'
Intercompany payable	3,561	0	'	'
Deferred tax liabilities	4,204	5,698	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	0	0	'	'
Total liabilities	62,584	52,230	'	'
Total Pilgrim's Pride Corporation stockholders' equity	138,780	134,683	'	'
Noncontrolling interest	0	0	'	'
Total stockholders’ equity	138,780	134,683	'	'
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	201,364	186,913	'	'
Subsidiary Non-Guarantors [Member]	'	'	'	'
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	263,607	95,114	70,331	40,523
Investment in available-for-sale securities	'	0	'	'
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	44,135	47,931	'	'
Account receivable from JBS USA, LLC	0	0	'	'
Inventories	100,264	92,013	'	'
Income taxes receivable	0	12,793	'	'
Current deferred tax assets	506	506	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	38,666	26,697	'	'
Assets held for sale	0	235	'	'
Total current assets	447,178	275,289	'	'
Intercompany receivable	0	0	'	'
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0	'	'
Deferred tax assets	13,466	18,924	'	'
Other long-lived assets	181,025	182,881	'	'
Identified intangible assets, net	7,698	9,062	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	109,966	102,221	'	'
Total assets	759,333	588,377	'	'
Accounts payable	48,172	49,495	'	'
Accounts payable to JBS USA, LLC	0	0	'	'
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	23,076	-19,528	'	'
Income taxes payable	25,027	587	'	'
Current deferred tax liabilities	15,070	15,515	'	'
Current maturities of long-term debt	0	0	'	'
Total current liabilities	111,345	46,069	'	'
Long-term debt, less current maturities	0	0	'	'
Intercompany payable	53,852	49,935	'	'
Deferred tax liabilities	301	297	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	3,350	3,231	'	'
Total liabilities	168,848	99,532	'	'
Total Pilgrim's Pride Corporation stockholders' equity	587,395	486,061	'	'
Noncontrolling interest	3,090	2,784	'	'
Total stockholders’ equity	590,485	488,845	'	'
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$759,333	$588,377	'	'

SUPPLEMENTAL_GUARANTOR_FINANCI3

SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net sales	$2,268,048	$2,142,815	$6,472,929	$6,363,863
Cost of sales	1,817,783	1,906,242	5,458,083	5,726,348
Gross profit	450,265	236,573	1,014,846	637,515
Selling, general and administrative expense	44,629	43,797	138,437	131,888
Administrative restructuring charges	135	3,658	2,286	4,622
Operating income	405,501	189,118	874,123	501,005
Interest expense, net	11,372	20,413	45,407	68,199
Interest income	-1,171	-571	-2,974	-1,494
Foreign currency transaction loss	6,414	2,682	4,932	4,771
Miscellaneous, net	-610	-8	-2,609	-730
Income before income taxes	389,496	166,602	829,367	430,259
Income tax expense	133,693	5,578	284,932	24,216
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	255,803	161,024	544,435	406,043
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income	255,803	161,024	544,435	406,043
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	-181	107	-26	-161
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	255,984	160,917	544,461	406,204
Eliminations/Adjustments [Member]	'	'	'	'
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net sales	25,185	-124,852	-200,749	-380,546
Cost of sales	25,185	-123,972	-200,749	-379,666
Gross profit	0	-880	0	-880
Selling, general and administrative expense	0	0	0	0
Administrative restructuring charges	0	0	0	0
Operating income	0	-880	0	-880
Interest expense, net	0	0	0	0
Interest income	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency transaction loss	0	0	0	0
Miscellaneous, net	81	338	213	520
Income before income taxes	-81	-1,218	-213	-1,400
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	-81	-1,218	-213	-1,400
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	-30,295	-20,643	-105,216	-105,532
Net income	-30,376	-21,861	-105,429	-106,932
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	-30,376	-21,861	-105,429	-106,932
Parent [Member]	'	'	'	'
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net sales	1,844,929	1,889,353	5,491,934	5,538,779
Cost of sales	1,453,490	1,676,605	4,660,153	5,059,584
Gross profit	391,439	212,748	831,781	479,195
Selling, general and administrative expense	38,184	36,976	119,268	111,473
Administrative restructuring charges	135	3,126	2,286	4,090
Operating income	353,120	172,646	710,227	363,632
Interest expense, net	11,315	20,246	45,114	67,710
Interest income	-215	-8	-522	-14
Foreign currency transaction loss	0	-1	2	-10
Miscellaneous, net	-1,815	-1,508	-7,090	-5,254
Income before income taxes	343,835	153,917	672,723	301,200
Income tax expense	118,146	13,643	233,478	528
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	225,689	140,274	439,245	300,672
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	30,295	20,643	105,216	105,532
Net income	255,984	160,917	544,461	406,204
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	255,984	160,917	544,461	406,204
Subsidiary Guarantor [Member]	'	'	'	'
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net sales	121,540	132,942	362,390	404,360
Cost of sales	124,940	117,753	344,707	366,769
Gross profit	-3,400	15,189	17,683	37,591
Selling, general and administrative expense	1,112	1,068	3,491	3,187
Administrative restructuring charges	0	0	0	0
Operating income	-4,512	14,121	14,192	34,404
Interest expense, net	-48	0	-109	0
Interest income	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency transaction loss	0	0	0	0
Miscellaneous, net	1,447	1,260	5,034	3,569
Income before income taxes	-5,911	12,861	9,267	30,835
Income tax expense	-2,245	0	5,171	5,764
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	-3,666	12,861	4,096	25,071
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income	-3,666	12,861	4,096	25,071
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	-3,666	12,861	4,096	25,071
Subsidiary Non-Guarantors [Member]	'	'	'	'
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net sales	276,394	245,372	819,354	801,270
Cost of sales	214,168	235,856	653,972	679,661
Gross profit	62,226	9,516	165,382	121,609
Selling, general and administrative expense	5,333	5,753	15,678	17,228
Administrative restructuring charges	0	532	0	532
Operating income	56,893	3,231	149,704	103,849
Interest expense, net	105	167	402	489
Interest income	-956	-563	-2,452	-1,480
Foreign currency transaction loss	6,414	2,683	4,930	4,781
Miscellaneous, net	-323	-98	-766	435
Income before income taxes	51,653	1,042	147,590	99,624
Income tax expense	17,792	-8,065	46,283	17,924
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	33,861	9,107	101,307	81,700
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income	33,861	9,107	101,307	81,700
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	-181	107	-26	-161
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	$34,042	$9,000	$101,333	$81,861

SUPPLEMENTAL_GUARANTOR_FINANCI4

SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014		Sep. 29, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'		'
Net income	$255,803	$161,024	$544,435		$406,043
Other comprehensive income:	'	'	'		'
Gain (loss) associated with available-for-sale securities, net of tax	17	0	-12		0
Gain (loss) associated with pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax	-653	313	-10,068		36,114
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-636	313	-10,080	[1]	36,114
Comprehensive income	255,167	161,337	534,355		442,157
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	-181	107	-26		-161
Comprehensive income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	255,348	161,230	534,381		442,318
Eliminations/Adjustments [Member]	'	'	'		'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'		'
Net income	-30,376	-21,861	-105,429		-106,932
Other comprehensive income:	'	'	'		'
Gain (loss) associated with available-for-sale securities, net of tax	0	'	0		'
Gain (loss) associated with pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax	0	0	0		0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0	0		0
Comprehensive income	-30,376	-21,861	-105,429		-106,932
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0		0
Comprehensive income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	-30,376	-21,861	-105,429		-106,932
Parent [Member]	'	'	'		'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'		'
Net income	255,984	160,917	544,461		406,204
Other comprehensive income:	'	'	'		'
Gain (loss) associated with available-for-sale securities, net of tax	17	'	-12		'
Gain (loss) associated with pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax	-653	313	-10,068		36,114
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-636	313	-10,080		36,114
Comprehensive income	255,348	161,230	534,381		442,318
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0		0
Comprehensive income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	255,348	161,230	534,381		442,318
Subsidiary Guarantor [Member]	'	'	'		'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'		'
Net income	-3,666	12,861	4,096		25,071
Other comprehensive income:	'	'	'		'
Gain (loss) associated with available-for-sale securities, net of tax	0	'	0		'
Gain (loss) associated with pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax	0	0	0		0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0	0		0
Comprehensive income	-3,666	12,861	4,096		25,071
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0		0
Comprehensive income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	-3,666	12,861	4,096		25,071
Subsidiary Non-Guarantors [Member]	'	'	'		'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'		'
Net income	33,861	9,107	101,307		81,700
Other comprehensive income:	'	'	'		'
Gain (loss) associated with available-for-sale securities, net of tax	0	'	0		'
Gain (loss) associated with pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax	0	0	0		0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0	0		0
Comprehensive income	33,861	9,107	101,307		81,700
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	-181	107	-26		-161
Comprehensive income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	$34,042	$9,000	$101,333		$81,861
[1]	All amounts are net of tax. Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to accumulated other comprehensive loss.

SUPPLEMENTAL_GUARANTOR_FINANCI5

SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS) (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Cash flows provided (used in) by operating activities	$802,408	$596,716
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment	-131,349	-76,293
Purchases of investment securities	-55,100	0
Proceeds from sale or maturity of investment securities	152,050	0
Proceeds from property disposals	8,422	3,330
Cash used in investing activities	-25,977	-72,963
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Proceeds from long-term debt	0	505,600
Payments on revolving line of credit, long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations	-410,199	-758,283
Payment of capitalized loan costs	0	-5,006
Proceeds from sale of subsidiary common stock	332	0
Other financing activities	0	0
Cash used in financing activities	-409,867	-257,689
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	-6,173	-3,928
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	360,391	262,136
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	508,206	68,180
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	868,597	330,316
Eliminations/Adjustments [Member]	'	'
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Cash flows provided (used in) by operating activities	-213	-520
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment	0	0
Purchases of investment securities	0	'
Proceeds from sale or maturity of investment securities	0	'
Proceeds from property disposals	0	0
Cash used in investing activities	0	0
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Proceeds from long-term debt	'	0
Payments on revolving line of credit, long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations	0	0
Payment of capitalized loan costs	'	0
Proceeds from sale of subsidiary common stock	0	'
Other financing activities	213	520
Cash used in financing activities	213	520
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	0	0
Parent [Member]	'	'
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Cash flows provided (used in) by operating activities	608,674	551,027
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment	-109,071	-63,298
Purchases of investment securities	-55,100	'
Proceeds from sale or maturity of investment securities	152,050	'
Proceeds from property disposals	5,544	2,288
Cash used in investing activities	-6,577	-61,010
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Proceeds from long-term debt	'	505,600
Payments on revolving line of credit, long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations	-410,199	-758,283
Payment of capitalized loan costs	'	-5,006
Proceeds from sale of subsidiary common stock	0	'
Other financing activities	0	0
Cash used in financing activities	-410,199	-257,689
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	191,898	232,328
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	413,092	27,657
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	604,990	259,985
Subsidiary Guarantor [Member]	'	'
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Cash flows provided (used in) by operating activities	5,441	4,235
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment	-5,448	-4,240
Purchases of investment securities	0	'
Proceeds from sale or maturity of investment securities	0	'
Proceeds from property disposals	7	5
Cash used in investing activities	-5,441	-4,235
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Proceeds from long-term debt	'	0
Payments on revolving line of credit, long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations	0	0
Payment of capitalized loan costs	'	0
Proceeds from sale of subsidiary common stock	0	'
Other financing activities	0	0
Cash used in financing activities	0	0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	0	'
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	0	'
Subsidiary Non-Guarantors [Member]	'	'
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Cash flows provided (used in) by operating activities	188,506	41,974
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment	-16,830	-8,755
Purchases of investment securities	0	'
Proceeds from sale or maturity of investment securities	0	'
Proceeds from property disposals	2,871	1,037
Cash used in investing activities	-13,959	-7,718
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Proceeds from long-term debt	'	0
Payments on revolving line of credit, long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations	0	0
Payment of capitalized loan costs	'	0
Proceeds from sale of subsidiary common stock	332	'
Other financing activities	-213	-520
Cash used in financing activities	119	-520
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	-6,173	-3,928
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	168,493	29,808
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	95,114	40,523
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$263,607	$70,331

PENDING_ACQUISITIONS_Details

PENDING ACQUISITIONS (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 28, 2014	Jul. 28, 2014	Jul. 28, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified		Tyson Mexico	Tyson Mexico
			employee
			distribution_center
			bird
			plant
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'
Consideration transferred	'	$400	'
Maximum processing capacity of employees per week (in birds)	34,000,000	'	3,000,000
Number of processing plants acquired	'	'	3
Number of employees acquired	'	'	5,400
Number of distribution centers acquired	'	'	7