Inventories (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 03, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
At lower of LIFO cost or market:
Live hogs and materials	$ 202,968	$ 208,641
Fresh pork and materials	29,997	28,573
Inventories at lower of LIFO cost or market, Gross	232,965	237,214
LIFO adjustment	(31,847)	(36,560)
Total inventories at lower of LIFO cost or market	201,118	200,654
At lower of FIFO cost or market:
Grains, oilseeds and other commodities	296,827	320,066
Sugar produced and in process	49,306	48,863
Other	55,581	57,344
Total inventories at lower of FIFO cost or market	401,714	426,273
Grain, flour and feed at lower of weighted average cost or market	91,417	109,375
Total inventories	$ 694,249	$ 736,302