Alojamiento de conejos sin jaulas: luces y sombras

The Resolution of the European Parliament related to the End-the-Cage-Age initiative of the European Citizens has started a revision process of existing legislation about animal welfare of farmed species in Europe, which will also reasonably impact rabbit production. Indeed, cage-free group housing systems have been under study since 1994 in growing rabbits and since 2006 in reproducing does, when first papers appeared in a scientific journal (Scopus database). Now, a roadmap towards a transition is under definition in Europe, with consumers on one side asking for more animal welfare - because of different motivations - and farmers looking for economically viable strategies and internal motivations for performing the changes – for a satisfying socio-economic survival of their production. While external forces driving the change will likely result in the loss of rabbit production, researchers are working to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of cage-free systems, looking for technical solutions that can overcome the main challenges for farm production and animal health on one side and looking for more knowledge about the rabbit behavioural and welfare requirements under farming conditions on the other side.