Expansive golden grassland stretches across gently rolling hills. The scene is bathed in bright daylight under a clear blue sky with a few soft clouds. Sparse green shrubs and patches of lighter grass add subtle texture and contrast. The open landscape conveys a sense of calm, space, and natural simplicity.

Animal Welfare

Our Aspiration

Walmart aspires to meet demand for affordable protein while improving animal welfare, including the humane treatment of farm animals and responsible use of antibiotics.

Walmart FY2026 ESG Report

Relevance to Our Business and Society

Walmart’s stakeholders—including customers, suppliers, farmers, and others—share a common goal: meeting the growing demand for affordable protein while advancing animal welfare. They expect Walmart to work collaboratively with suppliers to address animal welfare concerns across our supply chains and promote the responsible use of antibiotics. While affordability remains a priority, customers also expect products that reflect their values and support public health.

Walmart's Animal Welfare Position

Set expectations for welfare principles, reporting, transparency, standards, and continuous improvement through Walmart's Animal Welfare Position.

Walmart asks Walmart U.S. and Sam's Club U.S. fresh and frozen meat, deli, dairy, and egg suppliers to align with its Animal Welfare Position.
Suppliers are expected to prohibit animal abuse, adopt the Five Freedoms or Five Domains, utilize species-specific third-party-verified standards, report animal welfare performance, publicly disclose progress, and develop solutions to welfare challenges.

General Welfare Standards

Promote supplier alignment with recognized, third-party-verified animal welfare standards.

In FY2026, Walmart achieved 100% supplier compliance with its general animal welfare standards for shell eggs and fresh pork.
Walmart continues evaluating opportunities to expand recognized welfare standards and certifications across additional species.

Animal Housing

Advance housing practices that support animal welfare, including cage-free eggs and reducing reliance on sow gestation crates.

Cage-Free Eggs

As of FYE2026, 30.4% of Walmart U.S. shell egg sales were cage-free.
Cage-free eggs were available in more than 99% of Walmart U.S. stores.
100% of Sam's Club Member's Mark shell eggs were cage-free, and 67.0% of all Sam's Club shell egg sales were cage-free.
Although Walmart’s 2025 aspiration to achieve 100% cage-free shell eggs was not achieved, Walmart continues to work with suppliers to address production costs, customer demand, and supply disruption while expanding access to cage-free options and reporting annual progress.

Sow Housing

Walmart encourages suppliers to align sow housing with the Five Freedoms and Five Domains, minimize time spent in breeding stalls where appropriate, and work toward housing systems that balance animal mobility and safety.
Walmart engages suppliers and industry stakeholders to address implementation challenges and improve supply chain transparency.

Antibiotic Stewardship

Encourage responsible antibiotic use through supplier engagement, reporting, and alignment with recognized veterinary guidance.

Walmart expects suppliers to follow recognized guidance, including the AVMA Judicious Use Principles and U.S. FDA Guidance #209, supporting antibiotic use only for appropriate medical purposes.
In FY2026, suppliers representing 43.3% of Walmart U.S. fresh and frozen protein, shell egg, and fluid dairy milk sales reported antibiotic use data.
89.5% of Sam's Club Member's Mark poultry is antibiotic-free.
Walmart continues working with suppliers to strengthen reporting, improve transparency, and expand customer access to products raised without antibiotics.