Correction and Retraction

ZOOTEC Journal, published by the Faculty of Animal Sciences, Sam Ratulangi University, Manado, Indonesia, is committed to maintaining the accuracy, reliability, transparency, and integrity of its published scholarly record. Corrections, retractions, and other post-publication actions are handled in accordance with internationally recognized publication ethics principles and the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Correction (Erratum/Corrigendum)

A correction may be published when errors are identified in a published article that require clarification or amendment but do not invalidate its principal findings or conclusions.

Such errors may include incorrect author names or affiliations, inaccuracies in tables or figures, numerical or statistical errors, incomplete methodological descriptions, or other mistakes affecting the accuracy of the published record.

Corrections will be published as separate notices, clearly identifying and linking to the original article. Substantive changes will be documented transparently to ensure the integrity of the scholarly record.

2. Retraction

An article may be retracted when its findings or conclusions are considered substantially unreliable due to serious errors or violations of research and publication ethics.

Reasons for retraction may include:

  • Fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate manipulation of research data.

  • Plagiarism or substantial duplicate publication.

  • Serious methodological or statistical errors that invalidate the main findings.

  • Significant violations of animal welfare requirements or research ethics.

  • Research conducted without required ethical approval or legal authorization where this constitutes a serious ethical violation.

  • Manipulation of the peer-review or publication process.

  • Other serious ethical or legal violations that undermine the integrity of the published research.

Retraction decisions will be based on available evidence and an objective editorial assessment. The purpose of retraction is to correct the scientific record, not to punish authors.

Retracted articles will generally remain accessible in the journal's archive to preserve the scholarly record. They will be clearly identified as "RETRACTED" and accompanied by a formal retraction notice explaining the reasons for the decision.

3. Expression of Concern

ZOOTEC may publish an Expression of Concern when serious questions arise regarding the integrity, validity, or reliability of a published article, but the available evidence remains inconclusive or an investigation is ongoing.

An Expression of Concern is intended to inform readers about unresolved issues without prematurely determining that misconduct has occurred.

Following an investigation, the journal may issue a correction, publish a retraction, update or withdraw the Expression of Concern, or take no further action, depending on the findings.

4. Editorial Procedures

Requests for corrections, retractions, or other post-publication actions may be submitted by authors, readers, reviewers, institutions, research ethics committees, or other relevant parties.

The Editor-in-Chief and designated members of the Editorial Board will evaluate reported concerns objectively, fairly, and confidentially.

Where appropriate, the editorial process may include:

  1. Reviewing the reported errors or ethical concerns and supporting evidence.

  2. Requesting clarification or relevant documentation from the authors.

  3. Consulting independent reviewers, research ethics committees, or relevant institutions when necessary.

  4. Providing authors with an opportunity to respond to the concerns.

  5. Determining the appropriate editorial action based on the evidence and applicable publication ethics guidelines.

  6. Publishing the relevant correction, retraction, or Expression of Concern notice when warranted.

Editors with conflicts of interest must not participate in decisions concerning the affected article.

The final editorial decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief or an appropriately designated independent editor.

5. Transparency and Accessibility

All formal corrections, retractions, and Expressions of Concern will be published transparently on the official ZOOTEC website.

Notices should clearly identify the affected article, explain the reasons for the editorial action, indicate the responsible parties where appropriate, and provide a direct link to the original publication.

Relevant article metadata and indexing records should be updated where technically possible.

Published articles will not be silently removed or substantially altered without appropriate documentation. Complete removal will be considered only in exceptional circumstances involving compelling legal, privacy, or safety considerations, with a public notice retained whenever feasible.

6. Author Responsibilities

Authors are responsible for promptly informing the Editorial Office if they discover significant errors or ethical issues in their published work.

Authors are expected to cooperate with editorial inquiries, provide relevant research data or supporting documentation when reasonably requested, and assist in correcting the scholarly record.

A correction or retraction may be issued even when all authors do not agree, provided that the editorial decision is supported by sufficient evidence and follows appropriate procedures.

7. Compliance with Publication Ethics

ZOOTEC follows the principles outlined in the COPE Retraction Guidelines and other relevant publication ethics recommendations.

All post-publication actions will be conducted fairly, responsibly, and transparently to protect the credibility of scientific publications and maintain public trust in animal science research.

ZOOTEC Journal is committed to ensuring that the published scholarly record remains accurate, reliable, transparent, and ethically responsible.