Inventories (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
At lower of LIFO cost or market:
Live hogs and materials	$ 202,802	$ 207,310
Fresh pork and materials	34,199	33,485
Inventories at lower of LIFO cost or market, Gross	237,001	240,795
LIFO adjustment	(42,880)	(62,236)
Total inventories at lower of LIFO cost or market	194,121	178,559
At lower of FIFO cost or market:
Grains, oilseeds and other commodities	354,653	299,229
Sugar produced and in process	45,570	53,325
Other	54,003	74,289
Total inventories at lower of FIFO cost or market	454,226	426,843
Grain, flour and feed at lower of weighted average cost or market	85,293	93,596
Total inventories	$ 733,640	$ 698,998