Farmed rabbits are produced in large numbers globally under conditions that frequently cause significant welfare compromise, with reform efforts growing.
Farmed rabbit welfare has historically received less attention than pigs, chickens, or cattle despite the scale of production and severity of welfare problems in many systems. The traditional wire cage gives rabbits essentially nothing — no ability to burrow, no social contact, no substrate for natural behavior, and minimal space. The transition to park systems represents genuine improvement but is incomplete and uneven globally. The welfare case for hay provision is clear both behaviorally and medically — rabbits need fiber for digestive health and chewing behavior for psychological welfare. A welfare-centered farmed rabbit system provides group housing with substrate, hiding spaces, elevated resting areas, and unlimited hay access alongside high standards of veterinary care.