Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 29, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 29, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Net sales:
Products (includes sales to affiliates of $164,548, $194,836, $347,083 and $363,184)	$ 1,371,142	$ 1,194,991	$ 2,634,415	$ 2,385,813
Service revenues	237,948	248,354	483,960	493,109
Other	74,949	67,248	147,960	102,784
Total net sales	1,684,039	1,510,593	3,266,335	2,981,706
Cost of sales and operating expenses:
Products	1,294,124	1,108,998	2,465,826	2,176,963
Services	216,097	226,407	441,092	446,924
Other	58,408	54,622	117,101	82,659
Total cost of sales and operating expenses	1,568,629	1,390,027	3,024,019	2,706,546
Gross income	115,410	120,566	242,316	275,160
Selling, general and administrative expenses	61,861	59,843	125,309	121,081
Operating income	53,549	60,723	117,007	154,079
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(2,370)	(3,231)	(4,762)	(4,938)
Interest income	4,269	3,044	8,358	5,163
Interest income from affiliates	5,370	5,033	11,525	10,250
Income (loss) from affiliates	(4,547)	9,816	(7,397)	19,385
Other investment income (loss), net	(1,932)	(969)	254	2,490
Foreign currency losses, net	(135)	(3,849)	(1,280)	(585)
Miscellaneous, net	3,870	(4,005)	4,692	(2,656)
Total other income, net	4,525	5,839	11,390	29,109
Earnings before income taxes	58,074	66,562	128,397	183,188
Income tax expense	(18,048)	(16,870)	(30,614)	(51,496)
Net earnings	40,026	49,692	97,783	131,692
Less: Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(479)	405	(782)	614
Net earnings attributable to Seaboard	39,547	50,097	97,001	132,306
Earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 33.07	$ 41.58	$ 81.06	$ 109.63
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax benefit of $2,939, $1,752, $5,540 and $2,565:
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(6,699)	(3,601)	(12,821)	(3,141)
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments	(2,137)	(313)	(1,708)	1,171
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges				(91)
Unrecognized pension cost	2,545	2,243	3,737	3,320
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(6,291)	(1,671)	(10,792)	1,259
Comprehensive income	33,735	48,021	86,991	132,951
Less: Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(522)	422	(819)	575
Comprehensive income attributable to Seaboard	$ 33,213	$ 48,443	$ 86,172	$ 133,526
Average number of shares outstanding (in shares)	1,195,815	1,204,837	1,196,656	1,206,871