Commercial rabbit farming confines billions of animals in wire cages that severely restrict natural behaviour. Welfare science supports transition to park or enriched colony housing systems.
Farmed rabbit welfare is among the most neglected areas of farm animal welfare despite affecting enormous numbers of animals. Wire battery cages used in conventional rabbit farming are among the most restrictive housing systems used for any farmed species, preventing running, jumping, grooming, and social behaviour. The animals' strong flight response creates chronic frustration in enclosures where escape is impossible. Scientific evidence consistently shows that enriched park housing — providing more space, social contact, and environmental complexity — produces substantially better welfare outcomes with comparable production performance. Consumer demand for higher welfare rabbit meat and regulatory reform are the primary drivers of potential improvement. In many European countries, farmed rabbit welfare standards significantly lag behind those for pigs and poultry despite comparable cognitive and welfare needs.