Rabbits are one of the most intensively farmed and least-protected species in European agriculture, with ongoing welfare reform campaigns focused on replacing barren wire cages with enriched systems.
Farmed rabbits receive among the least welfare protection of any commercially farmed species in Europe, despite being highly sensitive, social animals with complex behavioural needs. Conventional wire cages cause chronic foot pain, suppress virtually all natural behaviour, and produce fearful, frustrated animals. The reform debate has centred on whether enriched cages or park systems better balance welfare and disease management — the evidence increasingly supports well-managed park systems as superior for welfare when combined with appropriate health management. Consumer demand for higher-welfare rabbit products, combined with corporate commitments from major retailers, is driving change more rapidly than legislation in some markets.