Commercial rabbit farming keeps billions of rabbits in barren wire cages, preventing natural behaviour and causing chronic welfare problems.
Rabbits are intelligent, active animals that in the wild run several kilometres per day and live in complex social groups. Battery cage systems prevent hopping, jumping, and social interaction. Wire floors cause painful hock lesions. Isolation causes psychological distress. High stocking in enriched systems can still lead to aggression. Respiratory disease is endemic in intensive systems.