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Rabbits have traditionally been used as laboratory animals. Because they are small and do not require a large amount of space in the laboratories and because the feeding and care are relatively inexpensive, this species is well adapted to certain types of research (Fig. 1.10). These include performing nutritional studies, testing new medical products, producing antibodies, developing information concerning inheritance of malformations, and studying diseases. The rabbit is being used more and more in connection with preliminary research tests with the larger types of farm animals, and its blood is used quite extensively in making antisera. Rabbits used in research are treated humanely. In some cases, as with the controversial Draize test for assessing effects of cosmetics on the eye, alternatives to animal testing have been developed and are in use.

Fig. 1.10. Rabbits are widely used in biomedical research. In this picture, a rabbit used in nutrition research is weighed. (Courtesy of P.R. Cheeke)