Caged rabbit farm shut down following our intervention
A caged rabbit farm in Lomazzo (CO), Italy, was shut down following our intervention. Over the years, the local health authority (ATS) had also reported critical conditions and increased its surveillance.
The alert came from a citizen who noticed rabbit carcasses and bones scattered in the fields adjacent to the facility.
© Essere Animali
Cage farming is extremely harmful to rabbits’ health, preventing them from performing essential behaviors like jumping, stretching, and standing on their hind legs. It causes stress, injuries, and aggression.
Shut down after a citizen’s report
The rabbit farm in Lomazzo, in the province of Como, completely ceased operations after we filed a complaint based on a citizen’s report of rabbit carcasses and bones scattered near the facility. We reported the case to the Como Public Prosecutor in 2022 after conducting inspections and documenting the terrible conditions the animals were kept in.
Problems found at the farm
The facility was in critical condition: the structure was dilapidated both outside and inside, with thick cobwebs on the ceiling. The cages were extremely dirty and rusty, with protruding metal parts that could injure the animals, and large amounts of feces were accumulated on the floor.
About 5,000 rabbits were kept in small wire mesh cages, without adequate environmental enrichment. Although such conditions are unfortunately still legal in Italy, they severely harm rabbits’ health by depriving them of vital space and stimuli, causing stress and injuries. In some cases, up to six rabbits were found crammed into a single cage.
Complaint archived
After our complaint, ATS Insubria conducted an inspection. Although it found no grounds for administrative sanctions or criminal proceedings, the inspection confirmed an excessive accumulation of droppings and cobwebs — issues that had already been reported in 2017. ATS raised the risk level of the farm and increased surveillance, putting in place an action plan. If not implemented, this plan would have resulted in new orders.
© Essere Animali
The company would have had to carry out both ordinary and extraordinary maintenance, including upgrading the ventilation and extraction systems, cleaning and sanitizing all areas and equipment, and reviewing pest control plans. Faced with these requirements, the owners apparently chose to shut down.
This outcome was also made possible thanks to the citizen who quickly reported the issue using our dedicated platform.
Almost all rabbits in Italy are raised in cages
Around 10 million rabbits are farmed, with Lombardy being the second region after Veneto in number of farms, housing about 1.5 million rabbits.
Traditional cages remain the standard not only in Italy but also in 85% of rabbit farming across the European Union, with Spain, Italy, and France being the main producers.
As reported by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), movement restriction caused by caging is the primary welfare issue affecting rabbits.
The problem with cage farming
A standard cage provides only 1% of the space a group of rabbits would naturally occupy — around 50 m² – preventing essential behaviors like stretching, jumping, and standing upright.
© Essere Animali
The lack of enrichment in cages is another serious issue: without materials to chew on, rabbits cannot wear down their constantly growing teeth, leading them to attack companions or gnaw on the cage bars.
Wire mesh floors cause skin injuries, sores on the feet, and hock lesions.
This case shows that poorly managed rabbit farms are unfortunately widespread, but it also highlights how crucial citizen involvement is in documenting and reporting such issues.