Good Rabbit Award launched

Published 08/06/2015

We are excited to announce that this year we will award our very first Good Rabbit Awards at our Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards at the Milan Expo.

Why rabbits?

1.2 billion rabbits are slaughtered for meat each year, and 99% of these are kept in cages. This makes rabbits the second most farmed animal in Europe but they are not protected by any species-specific EU legislation.

The Good Rabbit Award

With our help, food companies have improved the living conditions of their rabbits. For example, BreFood and Terrena have moved their meat rabbits out of cages into open pen systems which provide more space for better social interaction and more opportunities for them to express their natural behaviours. BreFood is also taking steps to address the welfare needs of their breeding does by looking at group housing, space provision and enrichment.

The lives of millions of rabbits have been improved thanks to the actions of leading food companies.

Our Director of Food Business, Dr Tracey Jones, says: “The work of these companies and its impact should not be underestimated.  Rabbits in barren cages have truly horrific lives experiencing cramped and uncomfortable conditions with little opportunity to express their natural behaviour". 

“The work by individual companies to make significant improvements to the short lives of rabbits has to be congratulated and we are delighted to recognise their leadership.”

The Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards herald an exciting time for food companies committed to improving animal welfare.