Worldwide researches on broiler breeders: A 25-year bibliometric review

The poultry industry plays a key role in meeting global protein needs amid changing demographics and lifestyles, and is constantly growing and evolving. Genetic selection and optimization of broiler breeder flocks have been key drivers of growth, making the maintenance of their health and performance essential both for chick production and for the long-term sustainability of the industry. Despite the high importance of broiler breeder flocks, no systematic bibliometric study has yet been conducted that specifically focuses on research in this area. To address this gap, we analyzed global research trends in broiler breeding science from 2000 to mid-2025 using bibliometric methods, based on 2,209 publications from the Scopus database. Scientific publications on broiler breeders have more than tripled over the past quarter-century compared to the previous five decades, maintaining an annual growth rate of approximately 4 %. These publications received an average of 17.06 citations per article, with approximately 21 % representing collaborative efforts between international research teams. The United States and China dominate in publications volume, although they show relatively low levels of international research collaboration. Conversely, countries such as the United Kingdom and Belgium, while contributing fewer total number of publications, show higher citation impact and broader international collaboration networks. The findings from co-word and co-citation analysis highlight several emerging research directions that emphasize interdisciplinary approaches involving nutrition, reproduction, welfare, and technological advancement. Ultimately, through this data analysis, we hope that our findings will help advance broiler breeding toward greater productivity, sustainability, and animal welfare.