Inventories (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
At lower of LIFO cost or market:
Live hogs and materials	$ 210,875	$ 207,310
Fresh pork and materials	34,439	33,485
Inventories at lower of LIFO cost or market, Gross	245,314	240,795
LIFO adjustment	(56,371)	(62,236)
Total inventories at lower of LIFO cost or market	188,943	178,559
At lower of FIFO cost or market:
Grains, oilseeds and other commodities	284,115	299,229
Sugar produced and in process	37,685	53,325
Other	65,122	74,289
Total inventories at lower of FIFO cost or market	386,922	426,843
Grain, flour and feed at lower of weighted average cost or market	74,575	93,596
Total inventories	$ 650,440	$ 698,998