Rabbits farmed for meat in conventional cage systems face severe welfare restrictions; EU legislation on rabbit welfare reform is progressing but slowly.
Conventional rabbit farming systems cause severe, ongoing welfare compromise through social isolation, behavioural restriction and inability to perform essential movement behaviours. Rabbits are capable of suffering and have clear welfare needs for social contact, space to run and jump, and manipulable enrichment. The scale of European rabbit farming means this is a large-scale welfare problem. Park system alternatives demonstrate that improved welfare is achievable commercially, though adoption remains limited without regulatory pressure.