Farmed rabbits are among the least protected of farmed animals in the EU, kept in barren wire cages, but sustained advocacy has produced emerging regulatory reform.
Farmed rabbit welfare in conventional systems is severely compromised. Sore hocks from wire floors, inability to move freely or perform natural leaping and stretching, and social deprivation represent chronic welfare failures. The EU regulatory response to the End the Cage Age campaign represents genuine policy progress, but implementation timelines and the gap between enriched cages and park systems leave welfare improvements partial. Consumer pressure for cage-free rabbit products and retailer commitments to phase out conventional cage rabbit products accelerate change beyond regulatory timelines.