Europe produces the majority of the world farmed rabbits in conditions that cause severe welfare problems including chronic fear and physical injury.
Farmed rabbit welfare is one of the most neglected issues in European agriculture despite the enormous scale of production. Rabbits are prey animals with strong fear responses, and intensive cage systems create chronic psychological stress for animals unable to hide, run, or seek social support. Physical injuries from wire flooring are nearly universal. Alternative park housing systems — though more expensive — demonstrate that the welfare gap can be dramatically narrowed while maintaining commercial viability.