Commercial rabbit production

Globally, around 1 billion rabbits are slaughtered annually for meat, over half of which are in China – the world’s largest producer.

More than 180 million rabbits are slaughtered annually in the EU, making rabbits the second-most farmed species in Europe. Over 70% of these are produced in Italy, Spain and France. The vast majority are raised in industrial caged farming systems.

There is no species-specific EU legislation to protect farmed rabbits and no specified minimum standards of welfare.

Intensive Rabbit Production

Barren cages

Barren battery cages are the most common housing for meat rabbits. Rabbits are caged individually or in small groups, with very little space to move as they grow. EU legislation has banned the barren battery cage for laying hens, but no such EU-wide legislation exists to protect farmed rabbits.

Cages have wired flooring and are bare except for the provision of feed and water. Rabbits are unable to express most of their natural behaviours including lying stretched out, rearing up on their hind legs (due to the height restriction of the cages), gnawing, hopping and digging.

Breeding rabbits are usually kept in single cages which denies them social interaction and suffer feet sores from the wire mesh. Mortality rates are very high due to disease and antibiotics are routinely used.

Enriched cages

There are no EU-wide legal requirements for enriched cages. The enriched cage, known as the ‘welfare cage’, typically includes a platform, a section of plastic flooring and a gnawing block. However, the space available is still very restricted, limiting the expression of natural behaviours, the floor is still mostly wire and there are no requirements to provide hay or hiding places. Enriched cages are also used for breeding does that are individually housed.

Common caged systems (both barren and enriched) house thousands of rabbits stacked in dark sheds.

Meat rabbits - key issues

Physical confinement in barren cages
Poor physical comfort on wire flooring
Insufficient fibre in diet
High mortality rates
Diseases and high antibiotic use
Boredom, fear and a lack of positive experiences
Restriction of species-specific behavioural expression

Read more about the welfare issues for growing rabbits

Does - Key issues

Physical confinement in barren cages
Poor physical comfort on wire flooring
Insufficient fibre in diet
High replacement rates and kit mortality
High disease rates and injuries
Boredom, fear and a lack of positive experiences
Individual housing and social isolation
Inability to isolate from the kits and rest undisturbed
Restriction of species-specific behavioural expression

Read more about the welfare issues for breeding rabbits