Farm

Rabbit Farming Welfare: EU Phase-Out of Conventional Cages

Farmed rabbits are among the most intensively confined farm animals, with conventional battery cages causing severe behavioural deprivation that the EU is beginning to address.

Key Facts

Around 300 million rabbits are farmed in the EU annually, primarily in conventional cages
Conventional rabbit cages prevent hopping, hiding, and social behaviour completely
The EU Farm to Fork strategy has proposed a phase-out of conventional rabbit cages
Enriched and park systems allow some natural behaviour but require greater management input

Welfare Considerations

Conventional rabbit cage systems represent an extreme welfare failure that is still legal throughout most of the EU. Rabbits in cages show high rates of stereotypy, aggression, and musculoskeletal problems. Urgently needed reform has been promised but not yet delivered.

What You Can Do

Advocate for EU rabbit welfare legislation reform
Choose rabbit products from welfare-certified enriched or park system producers
Support campaigns for rabbit welfare reform in the EU and your national context