Rabbits are the third most farmed mammal globally. Conventional wire cage systems severely restrict natural behaviors, driving EU reform toward enriched and park housing systems.
Farmed rabbit welfare in conventional wire cage systems is severely compromised — the inability to stand fully upright, run, jump, or engage in species-typical social behaviors represents a fundamental welfare failure. Wire flooring causes hock sores and chronic discomfort. Social isolation in individual cages prevents normal social interaction. Rabbits in enriched collective systems show dramatically different behavioral profiles with active foraging, social grooming, and exploration. The EU Farm to Fork Strategy committed to ending caged rabbit farming, with transition periods allowing producers to adapt. Consumer demand for cage-free rabbit products is growing in some markets but remains limited compared to other farmed species. Welfare certification for rabbit products is available through several European schemes.