Mapping the evolution of the research landscape of artificial intelligence and machine learning in veterinary and animal sciences

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are increasingly transforming veterinary medicine and biomedical science through improved disease diagnosis, therapeutics, livestock management, and supporting decision-making. However, the rapid expansion of this field has not been systematically synthesized to clarify its growth, patterns, thematic evolution, adoption, and global research disparities. A bibliometric analysis was conducted using publications indexed in the Scopus database. A total of 1,641 documents (1,472 articles and 169 reviews) published between 1994 and 2025 in 594 journals were retrieved and analyzed. Bibliometric indicators, including publication trends, citation performance, core journals, author productivity, keyword co-occurrence, thematic structures, and international collaboration networks were examined using established bibliometric methods, including the Bradford’s Law and thematic mapping techniques. Our findings indicate that the field exhibited an annual growth rate of 8.83%, with two distinct phases: a prolonged low-activity period (1994–2016) and a rapid expansion from 2017 onward, reaching a peak in 2025. Core journals such as Computers and Electronics in Agriculture , Animals , and the Journal of Dairy Science accounted for a substantial share of publications. Thematic evolution revealed a shift from traditional machine learning approaches to deep learning, computer vision, IoT-enabled precision livestock farming & veterinary medicine, and applications addressing animal welfare, food safety, and climate change. Research output and collaboration were dominated by high-income countries, particularly the United States, China, and Europe. AI and ML research in veterinary medicine is rapidly maturing and diversifying, yet significant geographic and institutional inequalities persist, underscoring the need for more inclusive global research collaborations to enhance livestock productivity and food security.