Caged rabbits: EFSA raises animal welfare concerns
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has raised concerns regarding space restriction in conventional rabbit cages.
Rabbits are the second most farmed species in the EU in terms of numbers. In the absence of species-specific legislation protecting the welfare of farmed rabbits in the EU, the EFSA has compared different rabbit housing systems in use.
Most rabbit farming in the EU takes place in five Member States: France, Hungary, Italy, Portugal and Spain. And according to the EFSA’s finding, farming practices not only vary widely between these countries, but also within them.
In the survey, the government agency considered a range of animal welfare issues, including restricted movement, resting problems, prolonged thirst or hunger, thermal stress, and skin disorders.
The resulting scientific opinion focuses on six housing systems: conventional cages; structurally enriched cages; elevated pens; floor pens; outdoor/partially outdoor systems; and organic systems.
The main conclusions are that:
- The welfare of adult rabbits is lower in conventional cages than in the five other housing systems (with a certainty of 66-99%). The most significant welfare consequence is restricted movement;
- The welfare of unweaned rabbits (kits) is lowest in outdoor systems and highest in elevated pens (certainty 66-99%). The highest welfare impact on kits raised in outdoor systems is thermal stress;
- Organic systems are generally good.
Image source: GettyImages/sarahmariebuhr
