Australian Rabbit Farming
2021 Exposé
Shocking new footage released by Animal Liberation reveals the abhorrent cruelty inflicted on domestic rabbits in one of Australia's rabbit farms in Gippsland, Victoria. The distressing vision depicts domestic rabbits bred in cruel conditions, and sick and injured rabbits left alive to suffer a slow death in breach of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986. Watch the full video release below.
You can read our full media release here (PDF).
Breaking story from The Age.
“The current methods of caging, management, veterinary care and methods of slaughter of rabbits in the meat industry have serious welfare issues and cause unnecessary suffering.”
Shocking cruelty
Confronting vision captured throughout the first half of 2021 shows domestic rabbits confined to small barren cages, suffering debilitating untreated illness and injuries, and high farm mortality rates.
The following vision may be distressing to some viewers.
A cruel, dying industry
Over the past 20 years, despite a steady demand, there has been a significant decrease in the number of rabbit farms in Australia from 561 in 2002, to an estimated less than 10 today. The decline is largely due to disease and welfare issues [1].
The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation’s (RIRDC) five-year RD&E report of new, developing and maturing animal industries for the years 2013-2018, found that the industry has negative growth prospects due to disease and welfare issues. The report confirms the industry turnover is down to $3.1 million, roughly equating to 0.005% of the gross value of Australian farm production, estimated to be $60 billion in 2016-17 [2 PDF].
Welfare issues
Current Australian welfare standards have not been changed for years and are vague, with no clear definitions.
Rabbits must legally be kept in cages, to prevent them from escaping. The cages have wire flooring, no enrichment, and are often overcrowded. According to the standards, rabbits are awarded 0.07m2 of space - roughly the size of an A4 paper. When in these cages, rabbits are unable to exhibit their natural behaviours, such as digging, exploring, foraging, or jumping. As rabbits are prey animals, the lack of cover on their cages also causes them significant stress.
Despite being social animals, bucks and does are kept in solitary confinement. For the bucks, their only chance to socialise is when a doe is put inside their cage for breeding. She is removed shortly after.
According to the Code of Practice for Intensive Husbandry of Rabbits, “avoidance of ammonia build-up is essential” and “should ammonia levels reach the point of being detectable by human sense of smell remedial action needs to be taken to reduce the level”, and should not exceed 10ppm [3]. Research has shown that people can detect ammonia at 5ppm [4]. Within the sheds, the investigators took multiple ammonia readings ranging from 15 to 33 ppm - greatly exceeding the 10ppm. Ammonia causes severe damage to the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes of the oral and respiratory tract.
To increase economic profits, rabbits on farms are fed a formulated, low-cost diet, which impacts their health [5].
To learn more about the industry, visit our general information page on Rabbit Farming.
Health issues
While reviewing the footage, Animal Liberation staff noted that multiple rabbits were suffering from:
paw injuries
footpad wounds
broken legs
splayed legs
weeping and infected eyes
respiratory illnesses (nasal discharge/coughing/sneezing)
ear infections/mites
injuries from cannibalism and infections (missing ears, nose, toes)
tumours
mastitis
infected wounds
severe head tilt (neurological disorders from captivity and illness)
overgrown teeth
premature death
What we’ve done
After receiving and reviewing the footage, Animal Liberation reported the rabbit farm to Agriculture Victoria, requesting immediate action. We have been notified that the factory farm is currently under investigation by the government department, Agriculture Victoria, following these revelations.
We notified Victorian MP Andy Meddick to follow up on the complaint, who has since introduced a bill to ban rabbit farming in Victoria.
Animal Liberation reached out to renowned rabbit veterinarians for review and comment on the issues prevalent in the documentation. We also requested the assistance of a published academic in the field, Dr Reem Lascelles who helped with research and analysis.
On the 10th September, The Age added a note stating that a Government spokesperson said "the investigation was finalised, living conditions met code of practice requirements and health issues were being treated. No further action would be taken."
We have since followed up with Agriculture Victoria for a formal response.
Update
Footage of clear animal suffering and cruelty was deemed inadmissible by authorities.
Because of the lack of justice for the rabbits, the Animal Liberation team approached lawyers to pursue our claims. We argued that in public interest, the footage should still be admissible, despite it being filmed covertly, but this was rejected.
This outcome has failed the rabbits. We are deeply disheartened and frustrated by this outcome, but we will not give up.
How you can help
We urge the Australian public to use their voices to demand a better reality for rabbits farmed in this country.
Support our call for a National Independent Office of Animal Welfare (IOAW), by signing the petition below. An IOAW will oversee and investigate farms such as this, to ensure standards are being met and perpetrators of animal cruelty are held to account.
Help us end the demand for rabbit meat by not purchasing or ordering rabbit meat, and by asking restaurants to leave rabbit meat off the menu. You can download our letter template here (doc).
Please support the Victorian Animal Justice Party’s call to ban rabbit farming in Victoria.
Help us keep our campaigns alive by leaving a donation gift or by becoming a regular supporter of Animal Liberation.
Media Coverage
If you would like to report a case of animal cruelty, please call our free cruelty hotline, 1800 Cruelty Hotline (1800 751 770), or send us an encrypted email at animallibnsw@protonmail.com.