RESEARCH MISCONDUCT POLICY

ZOOTEC Journal, published by the Faculty of Animal Sciences, Sam Ratulangi University, Manado, Indonesia, is committed to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity, academic honesty, transparency, and ethical scholarly publishing.

ZOOTEC takes all allegations of research and publication misconduct seriously and addresses them fairly, objectively, confidentially, and impartially, in accordance with the principles and relevant guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Definition and Scope of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct refers to unethical or unacceptable practices in the planning, conduct, reporting, review, or publication of scientific research.

Research and publication misconduct may include, but is not limited to:

  • Fabrication: Inventing research data, experimental results, observations, or scientific findings that were never obtained.

  • Falsification: Manipulating research materials, experimental procedures, datasets, images, statistical analyses, or results in a manner that misrepresents the research.

  • Plagiarism: Using another person's ideas, words, data, figures, or intellectual contributions without appropriate acknowledgment.

  • Duplicate or Redundant Publication: Publishing substantially similar research findings in multiple publications without appropriate disclosure or justification.

  • Inappropriate Authorship: Including individuals who did not make qualifying contributions or excluding legitimate contributors.

  • Citation Manipulation: Inappropriately influencing citation practices to increase citation counts or other bibliometric indicators.

  • Peer-Review Manipulation: Providing fraudulent reviewer identities, submitting fabricated reviews, or attempting to improperly influence editorial decisions.

  • Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest: Failing to disclose relevant financial, institutional, personal, or professional interests that may influence the research or publication process.

  • Research Ethics Violations: Conducting research without required ethical approval, permits, or informed consent.

  • Animal Welfare Violations: Conducting experiments or handling animals in ways that violate applicable ethical standards, animal welfare requirements, or approved research protocols.

  • Misrepresentation of Research Findings: Deliberately presenting misleading interpretations, unsupported conclusions, or inaccurate research information.

Honest errors or differences in scientific interpretation do not automatically constitute research misconduct.

2. Research Ethics in Animal Sciences

Given the scientific scope of ZOOTEC, particular attention is given to ethical compliance in research involving livestock, poultry, laboratory animals, companion animals, wildlife, and animal-derived biological materials.

Authors must ensure that research involving animals complies with applicable animal welfare regulations, institutional guidelines, and recognized ethical principles, including the Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement (3Rs) principles.

Research involving human participants, such as livestock farmers, consumers, agricultural workers, and other respondents, must comply with applicable requirements concerning ethical approval, informed consent, privacy, and confidentiality.

Authors are responsible for obtaining necessary ethical approvals, research permits, and institutional authorizations before conducting research whenever such approvals are required.

3. Reporting Allegations of Misconduct

Allegations of suspected research or publication misconduct may be submitted by authors, reviewers, readers, researchers, institutions, or other concerned parties.

Reports should be submitted to the ZOOTEC Editorial Office through the journal's official contact channels.

Reports should include, where available:

  1. The title of the manuscript or published article.

  2. Manuscript identification number or article DOI, where applicable.

  3. A clear description of the suspected misconduct.

  4. Relevant evidence or supporting documentation.

  5. Contact information of the reporting individual, where appropriate.

Anonymous allegations may be considered when supported by sufficient and verifiable evidence.

Official Journal Website:

https://ejournal.unsrat.ac.id/v3/index.php/zootek

Editorial Contact:

https://ejournal.unsrat.ac.id/v3/index.php/zootek/about/contact

4. Initial Assessment and Investigation

The Editor-in-Chief or an appropriately designated editor will conduct an initial assessment of reported allegations to determine their credibility, relevance, and potential seriousness.

Depending on the nature of the allegations, the editorial assessment may involve:

  1. Reviewing available evidence and supporting documentation.

  2. Requesting explanations or clarification from the authors.

  3. Examining original research data, experimental records, ethical approval documents, or relevant research materials.

  4. Consulting independent experts or reviewers when necessary.

  5. Referring serious concerns to the authors' affiliated institutions, research integrity offices, institutional ethics committees, or relevant regulatory authorities.

ZOOTEC recognizes that formal investigations into research misconduct may fall within the responsibilities of research institutions or competent authorities.

The journal will cooperate with such investigations while retaining responsibility for editorial decisions and the integrity of its published scholarly record.

5. Fairness, Confidentiality, and Protection of Reporting Parties

All allegations will be handled fairly, objectively, and confidentially, with due consideration for the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved.

Authors will be provided with an appropriate opportunity to respond to allegations before final editorial decisions are made, except where immediate protective measures are necessary.

Editors involved in a potential conflict of interest must withdraw from handling the relevant case.

ZOOTEC will protect the confidentiality of reporting individuals and whistleblowers to the extent reasonably possible and consistent with applicable legal and procedural requirements.

The journal will avoid premature conclusions, unsupported accusations, and unnecessary disclosure of confidential information.

6. Editorial Actions and Sanctions

When research or publication misconduct is substantiated, ZOOTEC may take appropriate action depending on the nature, severity, and publication status of the violation.

Possible editorial actions include:

  • Requesting clarification or correction of inaccurate information.

  • Rejecting a manuscript under consideration.

  • Suspending editorial processing while serious allegations are assessed.

  • Publishing a correction when errors do not invalidate the main findings.

  • Publishing an Expression of Concern when substantial concerns remain unresolved.

  • Retracting a published article when its findings are substantially unreliable or serious ethical violations are established.

  • Informing the authors' institutions or relevant authorities when appropriate.

  • Implementing proportionate editorial safeguards to prevent recurrence.

Any post-publication corrective action will follow ZOOTEC's Correction and Retraction Policy and relevant COPE recommendations.

7. Responsibilities of Authors, Reviewers, and Editors

Authors are responsible for ensuring the originality, accuracy, reliability, and ethical compliance of their research. Authors must accurately report research procedures, maintain appropriate research records, disclose relevant conflicts of interest, and cooperate with legitimate editorial inquiries.

Reviewers must maintain confidentiality, provide objective scientific evaluations, disclose relevant conflicts of interest, and report suspected research or publication misconduct identified during peer review.

Editors are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the editorial process, assessing ethical concerns impartially, avoiding conflicts of interest, and taking appropriate action when misconduct is suspected or identified.

8. Post-Publication Misconduct

Allegations of research misconduct may arise before or after publication.

When concerns involve published articles, ZOOTEC will assess the available evidence and determine whether a correction, Expression of Concern, retraction, or other appropriate editorial response is necessary.

Relevant notices will be published transparently and linked to the original article where applicable.

Substantive changes to the scholarly record will not be made silently.

9. Appeals and Policy Compliance

Authors or other relevant parties may submit reasoned appeals concerning editorial decisions related to alleged misconduct.

Appeals will be assessed in accordance with the journal's Complaints and Appeals Policy, preferably by editors or independent experts who were not involved in the original decision.

ZOOTEC periodically reviews its research misconduct procedures to maintain alignment with recognized standards of publication ethics and responsible scientific publishing.

ZOOTEC Journal is committed to preventing, identifying, and addressing research misconduct while ensuring fairness, transparency, accountability, animal welfare, and the integrity of the scientific record.