Bio Rabbit: Developing Sustainable Rabbit Production in Organic Agriculture

The Casdar Lapin Bio project conducted from 2010 to 2012 provides a comprehensive inventory of organic rabbit farming in France, identifying technical barriers and producing reference data on farm structures, costs, and performances. Surveys of fourteen operations revealed major differences from conventional systems and high variability in technical and economic outcomes, prompting the development of a dedicated monitoring tool. Experimental trials at INRA demonstrated the benefits of integrating forage into rabbit diets and adding cider vinegar to drinking water to reduce acute parasitic infestations. Further research is proposed to refine grazing management and parasite control, supporting the growth of this niche production.