A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF BEEF CATTLE POPULATION DYNAMICS: INSIGHTS FROM ASSESSMENT AND BIBLIOMETRIC EVIDENCE

Abstract

Beef cattle production is an essential component of food security, particularly in regions where livestock supports nutrition, income, and rural livelihoods. This study examines beef cattle population dynamics by integrating global bibliometric patterns with a qualitative case analysis of Bali Province, aiming to understand how policy, environmental conditions, and market mechanisms interact to shape herd growth and long‑term sustainability. Through field observations, semi‑structured interviews, document analysis, and bibliometric mapping, the study identifies the ecological, socio‑economic, and institutional factors that influence population trajectories at national and regional scales. The findings show that Indonesia’s beef cattle population has increased over the past two decades but continues to experience notable fluctuations driven by disease events, environmental stress, market pressures, and shifting policy priorities. In Bali, population changes are more volatile due to movement restrictions, limited genetic inflow, and strong market incentives that affect breeding female retention. The bibliometric analysis highlights an expanding interdisciplinary research landscape, with growing attention to animal physiology, veterinary medicine, genetics, disease ecology, environmental resource management, and production systems. Across scales, the study shows that water availability, forage conditions, disease transmission, reproductive practices, and price dynamics collectively shape herd stability, resilience, and population recovery following shocks. Overall, the study concludes that sustainable beef cattle population development requires a systems‑oriented approach that integrates governance, environmental management, animal health, and market coordination. These insights advance understanding of beef cattle population dynamics and provide strategic guidance for strengthening future livestock development and national food security.