An institution's position in the ranking is determined by the aggregate D-indexes (Discipline H-index) of all affiliated scholars whose primary field of publication is Animal Science and Veterinary. The D-index is a metric that takes into account only publications and citations specifically within the examined discipline, ensuring focused and relevant performance evaluation.
Scope of Research Evaluated
To ensure the accuracy and representativeness of the rankings, a wide scope of research profiles was assessed. Overall, 279,971 scientist profiles from diverse bibliometric sources were examined, with 43,427 scientists from Animal Science and Veterinary specifically analyzed.
To qualify for ranking consideration, scientists were required to have a D-index of at least 20, and a significant majority of their publications needed to be in the field of Animal Science and Veterinary. Distinctions such as awards and significant achievements in the discipline were also considered.
The D-index threshold used to identify top researchers was incremented by factors of 10, depending on the total scholars estimated for each discipline, thereby ensuring the inclusion of the top 1% of leading experts. Furthermore, eligibility was confirmed by verifying that the proximity between a scientist’s general H-index and their D-index did not exceed 30%. Besides citation metrics, notable achievements and recognitions in the respective field further strengthened a scholar’s standing in the ranking.
Verification Practices for Accuracy and Integrity
Research.com is acutely aware that raw bibliometric data alone cannot serve as the sole measure of scholarly achievement. Accordingly, all scientist profiles were subjected to thorough manual verification and cross-referenced against publications in an array of trustworthy and reputable sources.
While the volume of papers published in prominent journals or conference proceedings does not directly influence a scientist’s rank, it is acknowledged as a valuable signal contributing to the understanding of a scholar’s impact within a specific scientific area.
The ranking positions are ultimately established utilizing each researcher’s H-index based on information sourced from OpenAlex and CrossRef, which are widely recognized as the leading bibliometric databases for the global academic community.
For a comprehensive explanation of the methodology and criteria employed, please consult our methodology page.
Research.com’s Mission
Our mission at Research.com is to empower scientists, business leaders, and policymakers globally to stay attuned to the directions taken by leading experts. We aim to provide a transparent pathway for the research community to identify top scholars in specific disciplines, at the country level, or within individual research institutions.
Key Results of the 4th Edition Ranking
- Top 3 Italian Institutions by Number of Leading Scientists:
- University of Padua – 19 scientists
- University of Bari Aldo Moro – 13 scientists
- University of Sassari – 11 scientists
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Most Prominent Global Institutions in Animal Science and Veterinary: Texas A&M University, University of Florida, Cornell University, University of British Columbia, Wageningen University & Research, University of Castilla-La Mancha, University College Dublin, Pennsylvania State University, University of Calgary, University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
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Top 3 Scientists Globally:
- Professor Guoyao Wu (Texas A&M University) – D-index: 151
- Fuller W. Bazer (Texas A&M University) – D-index: 137
- William W. Thatcher (University of Florida) – D-index: 124
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Average Metrics:
- Average total D-index for top 5% universities: 1099 (vs. 167 across all 460 ranked institutions)
- Average number of published articles in Animal Science and Veterinary for top 5% universities: 5119 (vs. 750 across all 460 universities)
- Average number of citations for researchers in the top 1% universities: 279,971 (vs. 28,618 across all 460 universities)
These results not only reflect the scientific excellence and research productivity of Italy’s leading institutions in Animal Science and Veterinary but also demonstrate the comprehensive and meticulous approach Research.com has taken in evaluating and recognizing scholarly achievement at the national and international levels.
