Farm Animal Welfare

Farmed Rabbit Housing and Group Management

European farmed rabbit production is transitioning away from individual wire cages toward enriched and park housing systems with improved welfare.

Key Facts

Over 90% of EU farmed rabbits were historically kept in individual wire cages
Park systems house groups of rabbits in larger floor-level enclosures
Group housing reduces depression-like indicators and improves natural behaviour expression
Disease management is more complex in group housing than individual cages
The EU is developing new animal welfare legislation specifically for farmed rabbits

Welfare Considerations

Individual wire cage housing for farmed rabbits frustrates social behaviour, locomotion and rest comfort. Group housing in enriched park systems substantially improves welfare outcomes while presenting manageable production challenges. Policy reform and consumer demand are driving transition.

What You Can Do

Choose rabbit products with housing welfare certification
Support EU legislative reform for farmed rabbit welfare
Reduce consumption of farmed rabbit or choose certified higher-welfare sources