Commercial rabbit production for meat uses caging systems that have faced growing welfare scrutiny in Europe. Understanding welfare standards and alternatives in rabbit meat production reveals how animal welfare reform progresses in less-visible sectors.
Commercial rabbit production welfare parallels poultry welfare in its relative invisibility: rabbits are not as commonly associated with intensive production as pigs or cattle in public consciousness, yet millions are kept in conditions that prevent their natural behavior. The 2022 EU update to rabbit welfare regulations represented meaningful progress — requiring more space, hiding places, and enrichment in commercial systems. Park housing that allows group living, movement, and environmental exploration represents a further step toward welfare-positive production. The research gap in rabbit welfare is an advocacy and scientific challenge: welfare improvements in cattle, pigs, and poultry were driven by research that documented problems and validated solutions; equivalent investment in rabbit welfare science would accelerate improvement in this overlooked sector.