A new study has shed light on the ‘elusive’ rabbit industry and calls for more to be done to regulate and improve the breeding of rabbits as pets.
Deliberate over-breeding of some features of rabbits, such as flat faces, can cause health problems for the animal so the researchers wanted to find out what the demand is for these rabbits, what conditions they are kept in for breeding purposes and what local authorities are doing to regulate the industry in their areas.
The Rabbit Breeder Survey found that the most commonly-sold rabbits were the extreme breeds with flat faces, around half of breeders provided smaller housing than was recommended and only 1% of breeders were licensed.
The survey, by researchers at the Universities of Nottingham and Winchester, also found that most rabbits were housed singly, against welfare guidelines, and that most local councils contacted did not use their licensing powers effectively to police commercial rabbit breeding.
