Welfare of Growing Rabbits – Summary & Scientific Review

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.