Rabbit Farming: The Cruel Industry Exposed
The reality of rabbit farming
In Australia thousands of rabbits are factory farmed, housed in dirty windowless sheds, similar to battery hens. The sheds confine rabbits to small overcrowded metal cages. They are kept in these cages until they are killed at around 1.5kg (usually 10-12 weeks of age). Their bodies are sold to restaurants, butchers and select supermarkets.
Although it is not known exactly how many producers are in business at one time, as of 2007 there are 43 rabbit farms Australia-wide (except in Queensland). The average farm imprisons 300 breeding does per farm. With the growing popularity of rabbit meat, the amount of farms and rabbits killed is set to rise. Global rabbit meat consumption in 2004 was 1.1 million tonnes. Approximately half this amount comes from farms. Raising rabbits for meat is frequently promoted as an easy and lucrative money-maker and often attracts people to the industry with little or no experience. There is very little government inspection of properties, with many rabbit farms going unlicensed and unregulated for years. Even rabbit meat labelled as "wild" can in fact be farmed, if the original breeding stock was from a wild population. Hence, despite the over-population of rabbits in Australia, farms are breeding hundreds of wild rabbit species and labelling them "wild", suggesting they ran free until slaughter. These rabbits are raised and killed in the exact same way as all other intensively farmed rabbits.
Although it is not known exactly how many producers are in business at one time, as of 2007 there are 43 rabbit farms Australia-wide (except in Queensland). The average farm imprisons 300 breeding does per farm. With the growing popularity of rabbit meat, the amount of farms and rabbits killed is set to rise. Global rabbit meat consumption in 2004 was 1.1 million tonnes. Approximately half this amount comes from farms. Raising rabbits for meat is frequently promoted as an easy and lucrative money-maker and often attracts people to the industry with little or no experience. There is very little government inspection of properties, with many rabbit farms going unlicensed and unregulated for years. Even rabbit meat labelled as "wild" can in fact be farmed, if the original breeding stock was from a wild population. Hence, despite the over-population of rabbits in Australia, farms are breeding hundreds of wild rabbit species and labelling them "wild", suggesting they ran free until slaughter. These rabbits are raised and killed in the exact same way as all other intensively farmed rabbits.
Rabbits
Rabbits are a highly intelligent, curious, inquisitive, clean and social species. These little animals are strict herbivores and enjoy spending a large part of their day eating. In the wild they live in large groups, with these groups forming close bonds. Desexed pet rabbits also bond closely, can be litter trained and live as house rabbits. Rabbits need exercise and objects to chew, they enjoy digging, jumping, playing in large areas and grooming each other. The lifespan of rabbits can be 8 -10 years. Studies have shown domestic rabbits retain the full behaviours of their wild ancestors.
Rabbits in intensive farms
The New Zealand White and Californian are the most common rabbit breeds used for meat, along with Flemish giants, Dutch and lops. Rabbits are exposed to extremes of light, temperature and noise. Once female rabbits are mated they are on an endless cycle of reproduction, being re-mated before each litter is weaned. These mothers are used for around 18 months, during this time they will produce 8-15 litters before being sent to slaughter. The babies remain together and placed in fattening cages for 10-12 weeks before they are slaughtered. Breeding males are kept for 2-3 years, when their productivity begins to fall they are slaughtered and sold for low-grade meat. Small cages restrict their natural movement. Voluntary codes state that accommodation for rabbits over 12 weeks of age should be no less than 45cm high, sufficient height to allow rabbits to sit upright. For New Zealand white rabbits to perform this behaviour, a height of 75cm would be required. In reality most rabbits are living in cages with a height of only 38cm. Farmers are reluctant to house rabbits in larger cages as this encourage increased movement, using up more energy and resulting in a longer time taken to reach slaughter weight.
Deaths
Mortality rates are high in these overcrowded sheds (around 25-40 %).This is a far higher mortality rate than in any other commercial animal farming. Rabbits can die due to the complete lack of veterinary treatment, particularly when sufffering from respiratory disease, intestinal problems and infections. Rabbits are very sensitive to heat. In summer the sheds become so hot that entire cages of rabbits will die from heat exhaustion at one time. It is also common for entire litters of baby rabbits to die during the lactation period. After birth, baby rabbits are often weaned early, causing stress and deadly disorders and illnesses such as pneumonia.
Welfare concerns
Rabbits are bred in small wire cages, creating both physical and behavioural problems. The hard wire flooring of cages damages their feet and hygiene is also a major problem. Sheds are unventilated and ammonia fumes from the build-up of urine irritate the eyes and noses of rabbits. This leads to painful, life-threatening infections (see our 'illness and disease' page for further information). Disease rapidly spreads throughout the farm, causing many rabbits to be culled or left to languish until slaughter.
Barren cages and separation from other rabbits causes immense psychological stress. This social deprivation leads to stereotypical behaviour such as gnawing on cage bars, fur plucking (a form of self-mutilation). Over-crowding causes aggression and fighting. This is typical in all farms. Rabbits are fed an inadequate diet; with the pellets fed causing overgrown teeth which can lead to starvation. Rabbits often cannot eat or drink from the equipment provided. Small cage-size inhibits natural movement resulting in poor bone and muscle development, with rabbits losing the ability to hop; crawling instead.
Barren cages and separation from other rabbits causes immense psychological stress. This social deprivation leads to stereotypical behaviour such as gnawing on cage bars, fur plucking (a form of self-mutilation). Over-crowding causes aggression and fighting. This is typical in all farms. Rabbits are fed an inadequate diet; with the pellets fed causing overgrown teeth which can lead to starvation. Rabbits often cannot eat or drink from the equipment provided. Small cage-size inhibits natural movement resulting in poor bone and muscle development, with rabbits losing the ability to hop; crawling instead.
Transport to slaughter
The transport of rabbits to processing facilities raises welfare concerns similar to those of other livestock species. Separation, caging, crating and handling practices, food and water deprivation, noise, temperature, humidity and other environmental changes are all part of the trauma experienced by rabbits during transportation. Transporting rabbits affects the psychological and physical well-being of the animal. Rabbits can be so tightly packed that poor ventilation causes respiratory failure. Broken bones and traumatic lesions are all common due to poor handling.
"The amount of meat lost each year through careless handling and brutality would be enough to feed a million Americans for a year." - John McFarlane Director, Council for Livestock Protection
"The amount of meat lost each year through careless handling and brutality would be enough to feed a million Americans for a year." - John McFarlane Director, Council for Livestock Protection
Slaughter
During slaughter, commercial processors attempt to first stun rabbits by breaking their necks. It is difficult to stun "meat rabbits" effectively this way as they are too large to handle easily. During slaughter rabbits have their heads struck with a blunt object and their necks cut before being hung up to be "bled out" completely via full head decapitation. Most rabbits are still alive and scream out in pain as they move along the production line. Smaller breeders slaughter rabbits themselves and may even shoot them with pellet guns, or break their necks by standing on a broom handle laid over the neck. The entire time rabbits awaiting slaughter watch on, these animals can see, smell and hear the killing of their fellow cage-mates.
Cervical dislocation is a humane killing procedure only if a rabbit weighs less than 1kg. Rabbits are marketed at 2 – 3 kg, thus cervical dislocation is not a viable method during rabbit slaughter as muscles are much thicker, making proper cervical dislocation difficult to do correctly. Brain electrical activity is present for 13 seconds after cervical dislocation is performed. - The American Veterinary Medical Association
Cervical dislocation is a humane killing procedure only if a rabbit weighs less than 1kg. Rabbits are marketed at 2 – 3 kg, thus cervical dislocation is not a viable method during rabbit slaughter as muscles are much thicker, making proper cervical dislocation difficult to do correctly. Brain electrical activity is present for 13 seconds after cervical dislocation is performed. - The American Veterinary Medical Association
