Around 35 million rabbits are farmed in Europe annually for meat, mostly in barren battery cages. Welfare reforms are progressing slowly but significantly lag behind poultry and pig welfare advances.
Farmed rabbit welfare in standard cages is severely compromised. Rabbits are prey animals with strong motivation to hide from perceived threats - barren cages with nowhere to hide cause chronic stress. Their high-speed locomotion - sprinting and leaping sequences - is impossible in cages. Gnawing and digging, fundamental rabbit behaviours, have no outlet. Enriched cages with elevated platforms, hiding areas, and gnawing material improve welfare indicators significantly. France's 2027 ban demonstrates that policy change is achievable. Consumer avoidance of caged rabbit products and support for higher-welfare alternatives creates market pressure alongside regulatory change.