Commercially farmed rabbits face welfare challenges including barren battery cage housing, respiratory disease, and poor social conditions across European and global systems.
Battery cage-housed rabbits cannot perform natural behaviors like running, jumping, or digging. Social isolation causes chronic stress. Wire floors cause hock lesions. Respiratory disease from ammonia in poorly ventilated units causes significant chronic suffering. Handling for veterinary procedures or slaughter triggers intense fear responses in prey-sensitive species.