Sustainability of rabbit rearing conditions in France

Abstract

This article aims at specifying the concept of sustainable agriculture and at presenting the principle of the evaluation of farm sustainability (IDEA method). Thereafter, we analysed the sustainability of rabbit rearing conditions in France. This analysis shows that, as other indoor husbandries, the current practices of rabbit rearing have limits, in particular on the level of environmental sustainability (batteryhoused breeding, management of the effluents...). But they also have advantages, more particularly on the economic and social levels (profitability, working conditions). The stake will be thus to manage the lawful evolutions and to face market trends while preserving a maximum of its advantages.