Editing Rabbit (section)

===Domestication===
{{Main|Domestic rabbit}}

Rabbits, specifically the European rabbit (''Oryctolagus cuniculus'') species, have long been domesticated. The European rabbit has been widely kept as livestock, starting in [[ancient Rome]] from at least the first century BC. [[Selective breeding]], which began in the Middle Ages, has generated a [[List of rabbit breeds|wide variety of rabbit breeds]], of which many (since the early 19th century) are also kept as pets.<ref name="Irving-PeaseFrantz2018">{{cite journal|last1=Irving-Pease|first1=Evan K.|last2=Frantz|first2=Laurent A.F.|last3=Sykes|first3=Naomi|last4=Callou|first4=Cécile|last5=Larson|first5=Greger|title=Rabbits and the Specious Origins of Domestication|journal=Trends in Ecology & Evolution|volume=33|issue=3|pages=149–152|year=2018|issn=0169-5347|doi=10.1016/j.tree.2017.12.009|pmid=29454669|bibcode=2018TEcoE..33..149I |s2cid=3380288 |url=http://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/34474}}</ref> Some [[Strain (biology)|strains]] of European rabbit have been bred specifically as [[Animal testing|research subjects]], such as the [[New Zealand white]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mapara |first1=M. |last2=Thomas |first2=B. |last3=Bhat |first3=K. |date=2012 |title=Rabbit as an animal model for experimental research |journal=Dental Research Journal |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=111–8 |doi=10.4103/1735-3327.92960 |doi-broken-date=1 November 2024 |pmc=3283968 |pmid=22363373 |quote=Amongst various strains, New Zealand white strains of rabbits are commonly being used for research activities. These strains are less aggressive in nature and have less health problems as compared with other breeds. |doi-access=free}}</ref>

As livestock, European rabbits are bred for their meat and [[Rabbit hair|fur]]. The earliest breeds were important sources of meat,<ref>{{Cite book |author=Julie Kimber |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JWpODwAAQBAJ&pg=PA10 |title=Issues on War and Peace |author2=Phillip Deery |author3=Warwick Eather |author4=Drew Cottle |author5=Michael Hamel-Green |author6=Nic Maclelland |author7=Doris LeRoy |author8=Jeanette Debney-Joyce |author9=Jonathan Strauss |date=2014 |publisher=Australian Society for the Study of Labour History/Leftbank Press |isbn=978-0-9803883-3-6 |page=10 |author10=David Faber}}</ref><ref name="meatsci">{{Cite journal |author1=Marco Cullere |author2=Antonella Dalle Zotte |date=2018 |title=Rabbit meat production and consumption: State of knowledge and future perspectives |journal=Meat Science |volume=143 |pages=137–146 |doi=10.1016/j.meatsci.2018.04.029 |pmid=29751220}}</ref> and so were bred to be larger than wild rabbits at younger ages,<ref name="meatproduction">{{Citation |title=Meat Production |date=2022-05-11 |work=Rabbit Production |pages=274–277 |url=http://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/9781789249811.0023 |access-date=2024-05-23 |edition=10 |place=GB |publisher=CABI |language=en |doi=10.1079/9781789249811.0023 |isbn=978-1-78924-978-1|url-access=subscription }}</ref> but domestic rabbits in modern times range in size from [[Dwarf rabbit|dwarf]] to [[Flemish Giant rabbit|giant]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tislerics |first=Ati |title=''Oryctolagus cuniculus'' |url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Oryctolagus_cuniculus/#3a0538fe6c2441bc4dad900e89213ec7 |access-date=May 21, 2024 |website=Animal Diversity Web}}</ref><ref name="Fiorello">{{cite journal |last1=Fiorello |first1=Christine V. |last2=German |first2=R.Z. |date=February 1997 |title=Heterochrony within species: craniofacial growth in giant, standard, and dwarf rabbits |journal=Evolution |volume=51 |issue=1 |pages=250–261 |doi=10.1111/j.1558-5646.1997.tb02406.x |pmid=28568789 |s2cid=205780205 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Rabbit fur, produced as a byproduct of meat production but occasionally selected for as in the case of the [[Rex rabbit]],<ref name="rabprobreeds2">{{Citation |title=Rabbit Breeds |date=2022-05-11 |work=Rabbit Production |pages=23–28 |url=http://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/9781789249811.0003 |access-date=2024-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514151434/https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/9781789249811.0003 |archive-date=2024-05-14 |url-status=live |edition=10 |place=GB |publisher=CABI |language=en |doi=10.1079/9781789249811.0003 |isbn=978-1-78924-978-1|url-access=subscription }}</ref> can be found in a broad range of [[coat (animal)|coat]] colors and patterns, some of which are produced via [[dyeing]].<ref name="pg268">{{cite book |last=Davis |first=Susan |url=https://archive.org/details/storiesrabbitste0000davi/page/268/mode/2up |title=Stories Rabbits Tell |date=2003 |publisher=Lantern Books |isbn=978-1-59056-044-0 |page=268}}</ref> Some breeds are raised for their wool, such as the [[Angora rabbit]] breeds;<ref>{{Cite book |last=Campbell |first=Darlene |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y6njl3w0qEQC |title=Proper Care of Rabbits |date=1995 |publisher=TFH Publications, Incorporated |isbn=978-0-86622-196-2 |page=206}}</ref> their fur is sheared, combed or [[Plucking (hair removal)|plucked]], and the fibers are spun into [[yarn]].<ref name="Angora Wool Production">{{Citation |last1=Samson |first1=Leslie |title=Angora Wool Production |date=2022-05-11 |work=Rabbit Production |pages=292–302 |url=http://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/9781789249811.0022 |access-date=2024-05-26 |edition=10 |place=GB |publisher=CABI |language=en |doi=10.1079/9781789249811.0022 |isbn=978-1-78924-978-1|url-access=subscription }}</ref>