The world's largest retailer issued non-binding guidelines to its suppliers that included an appeal to provide sufficient space for animals and reduce non-medical use of antibiotics.

In the company's request, it expressed support for the "five freedoms" for livestock animals, set down by the UK government's Farm Animal Welfare Council, including freedom from hunger, thirst, discomfort, pain, injury, disease, fear, distress and the ability to "express normal behavior."

In a statement, Walmart President and CEO Wayne Pacelle called for an end to battery cages, gestation crates and veal crates that immobilize animals.

The company's guidelines are voluntary and do not include a deadline for its suppliers to comply.

The move follows announcements in recent months from companies calling for reduced use of antibiotics. McDonald's said in March that it would curb use of antibiotics used in human medicine and in April Tyson Foods announced it would stop using them by 2017.

Read More:

• Wal-Mart Encourages Meat and Egg Suppliers to Curb Antibiotic Use (Wall Street Journal)
• Walmart Pushes for Improved Animal Welfare (New York Times)
• Walmart Pushes Stricter Animal Welfare Policy (USA Today)