<![CDATA[The global livestock sector faces dual pressures from increasing consumption demand and urgent sustainability mandates. This study maps the global research trajectory in Economic Analysis of Animal Farming (EAEF) (2015–2025) to understand its intellectual structure and identify future novelty. A comprehensive bibliometric analysis was conducted using data from Scopus and Dimensions databases. The stages included identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion. VOSviewer was employed to analyze annual trends, collaboration networks (countries/authors), and thematic gaps. Results confirm EAEF's high intellectual maturity (over 90% cited), its thematic anchoring in the circular economy and the SDG framework, and a unique connection to archaeozoology. However, the collaboration network is highly centralized and geopolitically asymmetrical (core-periphery dynamics), with the UK and US as leaders. Crucially, thematic mapping revealed a major deficit: the term "nonhuman animals" is highly relevant but low-density, indicating a failure to adequately integrate ethical and welfare metrics into economic models. We conclude that the field's future lies in methodological expansion. This highly centralized structure, as evidenced by reliance on a few pivotal bridging authors, suggests that the global research agenda is primarily steered by the interests and funding priorities of developed economies. The most critical finding, directly addressing the Research Gaps, is the pronounced methodological deficit in integrating ethical and biological metrics within EAEF models. Novel research must focus on developing interdisciplinary econometric tools to quantify the non-market value of animal welfare, thereby ensuring that EAEF provides holistic and socially equitable policy advice.]]>
Copyrights © 2026
