Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Apr. 02, 2011
Net sales:
Products (includes sales to affiliates of $168,348 and $162,268)	$ 1,190,822	$ 1,197,622
Services	244,755	238,212
Other	35,536	32,345
Total net sales	1,471,113	1,468,179
Cost of sales and operating expenses:
Products	1,067,965	1,049,797
Services	220,517	206,218
Other	28,037	27,058
Total cost of sales and operating expenses	1,316,519	1,283,073
Gross income	154,594	185,106
Selling, general and administrative expenses	61,238	54,830
Operating income	93,356	130,276
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(1,707)	(1,516)
Interest income	2,119	2,297
Interest income from affiliates	5,217	3,833
Income from affiliates	9,569	6,162
Other investment income, net	3,459	2,340
Foreign currency gain, net	3,264	4,764
Miscellaneous, net	1,349	788
Total other income, net	23,270	18,668
Earnings before income taxes	116,626	148,944
Income tax expense	(34,626)	(32,251)
Net earnings	82,000	116,693
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	209	171
Net earnings attributable to Seaboard	82,209	116,864
Earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 68.00	$ 96.11
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax benefit of $813 and $295:
Foreign currency translation adjustment	460	(593)
Unrealized gain on investments	1,484	99
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges	(91)
Unrecognized pension cost	1,077	341
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	2,930	(153)
Comprehensive income	84,930	116,540
Less: comprehensive loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest	153	158
Comprehensive income attributable to Seaboard	$ 85,083	$ 116,698
Average number of shares outstanding (in shares)	1,208,905	1,215,879