Meat Rabbits

Cage-free housing systems which take into account the needs of rabbits by providing them with more space and a more comfortable and stimulating environment have a higher welfare potential than caged systems.

Investing in well-designed cage-free systems for rabbits is considered to be a future-proof investment in the face of upcoming changes to the European legislation and evolving consumer expectations.

This document shares practical information for food companies and producers planning their transition to cage-free rabbit systems, covering:

• Welfare issues in caged rabbit production.
• The business case for a transition to cage-free rabbit production.
• Key features of rabbit housing to ensure good welfare.
• An overview of commercially available cage-free alternatives for growing rabbits.
• Recommendations on higher welfare housing for does.
• Assessing rabbit welfare using animal-based welfare outcome measures.

Almost 534 million rabbits were farmed for meat globally in 2022, the majority in Asia, followed by the EU. Rabbits are most commonly housed in small, barren cages, leading to serious welfare issues due to limited space, wire flooring, high stocking densities, disease and injury, and a lack of behavioural opportunities in a barren environment. Housing systems which offer more space (increased space allowance and increased horizontal and vertical space), comfortable flooring, and enable growing rabbits to perform more of their species-specific behavioural repertoire (such gnawing, hiding, hopping and play) have a higher welfare potential. A number of cage-free housing systems for growing rabbits exist and some are used commercially.

A summary illustration of the key things you need to know about rabbits

The independent report reviewing ‘The Welfare of Farmed Rabbits in Commercial Production Systems’ was written by researchers from the University of Bristol and commissioned by Compassion in World Farming. It comprises an independent review of the scientific literature on rabbits, incorporating knowledge of their natural behaviour and biology in the wild, and studies of their welfare in European production systems.

A summary table which outlines the main welfare issues experienced by growing (meat) rabbits and offers some alternative solutions.

A summary table which outlines the welfare potential by production system for meat rabbits and does using a ‘Bad-Better-Best’ model.