The Santa Inês breed is one of the most important sheep breeds in Brazil, especially in the Northeast region. Known for its resilience, adaptability, and resistance to parasites, this breed has gained the attention of researchers who seek to better understand its genetic, productive, and health characteristics. But what have been the main research topics on this sheep breed over the years?
A recent study, published in Applied Veterinary Research and conducted by researchers from the University of Brasília, Embrapa, and other Brazilian institutions, analyzed the scientific production on the Santa Inês breed. The objective was to map the evolution of publications, identify key research topics, and assess the academic impact of these studies.
What has science been studying about the Santa Inês sheep?
The researchers conducted a bibliometric analysis, a method that evaluates the scientific production on a specific subject. They used the Scopus (Elsevier) database to analyze articles published between 2000 and 2022. The VOSviewer software was used to create scientific network maps, highlighting the most frequent keywords, the most influential authors, and connections between different studies.
Among the main research topics on the Santa Inês breed, the study identified:
- Parasitology: Resistance to parasites and other health challenges.
- Nutrition: Use of alternative feed and its impact on productive performance.
- Genetics and breeding: Genetic diversity, crossbreeding, and productive traits.
The analysis also revealed that most studies on the Santa Inês breed are concentrated in the Northeast region of Brazil, where sheep farming plays a major economic role. However, scientific research on Santa Inês in other regions, such as Southern and Northern Brazil, is still limited.
Scientific production has stagnated, and there is little international collaboration
The data showed that the number of publications on the Santa Inês breed increased between 2000 and 2015, but has since stabilized at around 80 articles per year.
Additionally, the study revealed low international collaboration, with most articles being published in Brazilian journals. When studies involve international researchers, they tend to be more cited, indicating a higher academic impact.
Another interesting finding is that only 3.2% of the analyzed articles rank among the top 10% most cited worldwide, suggesting that research on the Santa Inês breed still lacks global recognition.
What needs to be further studied about the Santa Inês breed?
Despite the large number of studies, the researchers highlighted significant gaps in current knowledge. Some areas that require more attention include:
✔ The breed’s impact on the market and rural economy.
✔ Use of reproductive biotechnologies for genetic improvement.
✔ Studies on animal welfare and the sustainability of production systems.
The authors also advocate for an official genetic improvement program for the Santa Inês breed, which could help consolidate its importance in the Brazilian and global sheep industry.
Conclusion
The bibliometric analysis of the Santa Inês breed revealed that, despite a significant volume of research, challenges remain. There is a need to expand international collaboration and explore new research areas. The Santa Inês breed has enormous potential, and greater investment in science could help make it even more competitive in the market.
💬 Did you already know about the importance of the Santa Inês breed for Brazilian sheep farming? Do you think research on this breed should be expanded? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Read full article on the Applied Veterinary Research website
This reaserch was conducted by:
Concepta McManus, Universidade de Brasília, Brazil
Samuel Rezende Paiva, Embrapa, Brazil
Felipe Pimentel, Universidade Anhembi, Brazil
Daniel Pimentel, Universidade de Brasília, Brazil
Vanessa Peripolli, Instituto Federal Catarinense, Brazil
Tiago do Prado Paim, Instituto Federal Goiano, Brazil
