Environmental enrichment for farmed rabbits addresses the most significant behavioral deprivations of conventional housing while being practically implementable in commercial systems.
Farmed rabbit enrichment research demonstrates that simple, inexpensive interventions substantially improve welfare in conventional systems: hay provision, gnaw blocks, and elevated platforms cost little but address significant behavioral deprivations. The welfare case for enrichment in farmed rabbits is both ethically compelling and practically feasible — enrichment does not require fundamental system redesign but can improve welfare within existing cage structures while the industry transitions toward group housing systems. The European food industry is increasingly requiring enriched housing in rabbit supply chains, creating market pressure for adoption. Consumer awareness that most commercial rabbit products involve conventional barren cage rearing remains low and is an advocacy priority.