Published 13/10/2014
Compassion was delighted to present a Rabbit Innovation Award to leading German wholesaler ‘BreFood‘ at an Animal Welfare Forum in China on Saturday (11th October).
‘BreFood’ places higher animal welfare standards at the core of its sourcing policy and in 2009 began working with partners in China to develop a higher welfare farming system for its frozen rabbit meat supply.
By working together with rabbit producers, Kangda in China, and experts from NGO Four Paws, the company has moved ALL the rabbits in its supply chain from cages into open pens which offer key welfare benefits.
All BreFood’s frozen rabbit meat is now produced to these higher welfare standards which is certified by ‘Four Paws’ and sold to retailers across Germany. BreFood has also recently launched a new pet food range using its higher welfare rabbit meat.
1.2 billion rabbits are slaughtered globally each year, almost half of which are in China - the world’s largest producer – and barren-caged housing is widespread. So, Compassion is proud to recognise companies like BreFood who are leading the way by demonstrating that cage-free meat rabbit production is commercially viable.
Through its higher welfare policy for meat rabbits, BreFood is benefitting over 1.2 million rabbits per year.
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