Farmed rabbits have complex social and behavioural needs that intensive production systems rarely meet, contributing to high levels of stress, disease, and poor welfare.
Farmed rabbit welfare is among the most neglected in European agriculture. The standard wire cage housing system denies rabbits almost every natural behaviour - they cannot dig, run, jump properly, or engage in the social interactions that are central to their wellbeing. Foot pad injuries from wire floors are nearly universal. The intensive reproductive cycle of does causes chronic physiological stress. Yet rabbit meat is consumed in large quantities across southern Europe with minimal welfare oversight. The EU's proposed welfare improvements, including minimum space, enrichment requirements, and group housing standards, would represent significant progress - but industry resistance is strong. Consumer awareness and demand for higher welfare rabbit products is growing but still limited.