Livestock

Commercial Rabbit Farming: Welfare Standards 2026

Commercial rabbit farming for meat produces over 1.5 million tonnes annually globally, with welfare standards varying enormously and significant reform efforts underway in Europe.

Key Facts

Welfare Considerations

Conventional battery cage systems cause severe welfare impacts through extreme space restriction preventing normal movement, absence of enrichment preventing species-typical behaviours, high disease burden from respiratory infections, and bone fragility from lack of exercise. Park housing systems allow locomotion, social behaviour and gnawing, substantially improving welfare.

What You Can Do