Farmed rabbits are housed in conditions that frequently prevent expression of core behaviours including jumping, hiding, gnawing and social grooming, making enrichment provision one of the most important welfare improvement opportunities in rabbit production.
Farmed rabbits in conventional caged systems experience profound behavioural deprivation. The inability to jump, hide, gnaw appropriately or engage in full social interaction creates chronic frustration and stress. Stereotypic behaviours such as bar-chewing and repetitive locomotion indicate poor welfare states. Wire mesh flooring causes footpad sores (pododermatitis) and discomfort during prolonged standing. Social isolation of breeding does for prolonged periods causes pronounced welfare deterioration. The commercially viable alternatives — park systems with enrichment — have been demonstrated to substantially improve welfare without prohibitive cost increases in several European countries.