To investigate the effects of genotype and rearing system on innate immunity and oxidative status, 40 weaned commercial hybrid (H) rabbits and 40 rabbits of a local population (LP) were assigned to two rearing systems: cage (17 rabbits/m(2)) and pen (1x2 m, 10 rabbits/m(2)). Rearing H rabbits in pen resulted in a higher lysozyme concentration (P<0.05), an increased bactericidal activity (P<0.05) and a lower complement haemolytic activity (P<0.05) with respect to those reared in cage. Opposite results were obtained for LP rabbits. In addition, genotype H was more susceptibility to inflammation than LP in pen, whereas genotype LP suffered more in cage. A higher lipid (P<0.05) and protein (P<0.05) oxidation was found in Longissimus dorsi and Biceps femoris of rabbits H in pen compared to those in cage. An opposite trend was observed for LP rabbits. In cage, LP rabbits were more susceptible to oxidative stress than H rabbits. Taken together, our results show that immune and oxidative resistance ascribed to a specific genotype are important factors to be considered when a specific rearing system should be adopted. Considering this, rabbit LP seem to better adapt to larger spaces during growing.