MAPPING RESEARCH PATTERNS IN CHAIN COORDINATION AND CATTLE SUPPLY CHAIN PERFORMANCE IN MALAYSIA

Abstract

The cattle supply chain in Malaysia plays a pivotal role in national food security and economic sustainability. However, it faces persistent challenges, particularly in supply chain coordination and performance enhancement. This study employs a bibliometric analysis to map the research landscape related to chain coordination and cattle supply chain performance in Malaysia. Using data extracted from the Scopus database for the period 2020–2025, a refined search string retrieved 799 documents, revealing significant academic engagement with this field. Tools such as VOSviewer were applied to visualize co-authorship networks, citation patterns, and thematic clusters, offering a comprehensive view of intellectual trends. The results show a steady growth in publications, with peak outputs in 2022 and 2024, primarily concentrated in engineering, business, and computer science disciplines. Technological themes like blockchain, Industry 4.0, and IoT dominate keyword clusters, alongside theoretical approaches such as game theory and risk management frameworks. The analysis also identifies China, India, and the United States as top contributors globally, while Malaysia shows increasing participation and collaboration within Southeast Asia. Highly cited works emphasize sustainable practices, digital transformation, and collaborative coordination mechanisms. This research highlights the need for stronger coordination strategies, stakeholder collaboration, and adoption of digital tools to improve cattle supply chain performance. The findings provide practical implications for policymakers and industry actors seeking to enhance supply chain resilience, traceability, and efficiency. While the study contributes a structured overview of the academic discourse, it is limited by its reliance on a single bibliographic database and English-only publications. Future work may integrate qualitative insights and cross-regional comparisons to enrich the understanding of Malaysia’s cattle supply chain dynamics. Overall, this analysis serves as a critical reference for guiding strategic development in agri-food supply chain management in Malaysia and similar emerging economies.