Rabbits farmed for meat face significant welfare challenges in a largely unregulated industry. Understanding production conditions and welfare improvements informs consumer decisions.
Farmed rabbit welfare represents a significant gap in livestock welfare regulation and consumer awareness. Rabbits are intelligent, socially complex animals that naturally run, jump, play, and engage in complex social interactions. Battery cage systems that confine rabbits in small wire mesh cages prevent virtually all natural behavior. Welfare platform systems being developed and adopted in some EU countries provide elevated platforms, enriched group housing, and better opportunities for behavioral expression. The low profile of rabbit farming in the UK means welfare concerns receive limited attention despite the scale of European production.