Rabbits are farmed for meat at enormous scale, particularly in Europe and China, under conditions that frequently conflict with their behavioral needs.
Farmed rabbits are among the most neglected animals in welfare reform conversations, despite being produced at a scale comparable to farmed pigs in Europe. Battery cage systems confine rabbits in conditions that prevent virtually all natural behavior — burrowing, jumping, and social interaction with appropriate group dynamics. Enriched park systems represent a meaningful improvement, though animal welfare organizations continue to push for further improvements in space, substrate, and environmental complexity. Consumer awareness of farmed rabbit welfare is low, limiting market pressure for improvement.