The welfare of rabbits raised for meat and fur, including conventional cage systems and the emerging higher-welfare alternatives.
Farmed rabbit welfare is one of the least regulated and least publicly visible animal farming issues despite affecting over a billion animals annually. Conventional cage systems subject rabbits to isolation, spatial restriction, wire flooring, and the complete suppression of their natural behavioral repertoire. The welfare comparison with companion rabbits — who require large spaces and social companionship — reveals the inadequacy of production standards for the same species. The welfare science supporting group housing with enrichment as superior to conventional caging is clear and consistent. The barrier to change is economic incentive and insufficient regulatory pressure from governments that have not prioritized rabbit welfare.