Scientific trends and advances in forage research for sustainable livestock systems: a bibliometric analysis and literature review

Abstract

Research on forages has experienced sustained growth in response to the need for more sustainable livestock production systems; in this context, the present study analyzed global trends using a bibliometric approach based on literature indexed in Scopus (2015–2025), through a systematic search in titles, abstracts, and keywords related to sustainability, nutrition, forages, and livestock production. A total of 86 original articles in English were selected following inclusion and exclusion criteria, and their data were processed using VOSviewer, Scimago Graphica, and Bibliometrix in R, enabling the evaluation of co-authorship networks, international collaboration maps, keyword co-occurrence, and thematic evolution. Consequently, the results revealed a significant increase in scientific production, as well as greater interaction between developed and emerging countries, along with a diversification of research lines encompassing forage genetic improvement, nutritional efficiency, emission mitigation, and the sustainability of production systems. Overall, forage research represents a dynamic and expanding field, with future perspectives focused on the integration of advanced technologies to optimize production and reduce environmental impact in animal production systems.