Rabbits are farmed in large numbers for meat and fur, largely in conventional battery cage systems that severely restrict their natural behaviors, and welfare reform is underway in the EU.
Farmed rabbits experience severe behavioral restriction in conventional cage systems. With minimal floor space, no ability to run, jump, or express burrowing behavior, and limited social structure, these animals live in conditions that cause chronic frustration and high rates of disease. Digestive disorders, respiratory infections, and sore hocks are common in intensive systems. The European Union has been moving toward mandatory enriched park systems that provide elevated resting areas, hiding places, and more space per animal — though transition timelines and enforcement remain contested. Consumer demand for higher welfare rabbit products, combined with regulatory reform, is the most effective path to improved welfare for this frequently forgotten farmed species.