The welfare case for housing reform in farmed rabbit production moving beyond barren battery cages.
Farmed rabbit welfare is one of the most significant unreformed areas of European animal agriculture. Rabbits in wire battery cages cannot perform the running, jumping, and hiding behaviors that are fundamental to their behavioral repertoire, resulting in high rates of stereotypic behavior and chronic stress. Enriched colony systems that provide appropriate space, platforms, and substrate are technically and economically feasible, as demonstrated by producers who have already transitioned. EU legislative reform is progressing, but the timeline means that millions of rabbits continue to experience avoidable welfare compromise.