Plagiarism Policy

1. Introduction

ZOOTEC Journal maintains a strict policy against plagiarism to ensure the originality, credibility, and integrity of the scholarly works it publishes. The journal is committed to publishing original research in animal sciences and upholding high standards of publication ethics.

This policy outlines the journal's definition of plagiarism, procedures for its detection, and actions to be taken when plagiarism is identified.

All authors submitting manuscripts to ZOOTEC Journal, published by the Faculty of Animal Sciences, Sam Ratulangi University, must ensure that their work is original, properly attributed, and free from plagiarism.

2. Description

Plagiarism involves presenting another person's work, ideas, words, or data as one's own without appropriate acknowledgment, attribution, or permission.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Direct plagiarism: Copying text, phrases, or substantial portions of another person's work without proper quotation marks and appropriate citations.
Inadequate paraphrasing: Paraphrasing another person's work too closely without sufficient acknowledgment of the original source.
Misuse of data and visual materials: Using figures, tables, images, photographs, data, or research findings from other sources without appropriate acknowledgment or, where required, permission.
Idea plagiarism: Presenting another person's ideas, theories, interpretations, or intellectual contributions as one's own.
Self-plagiarism: Reusing substantial portions of one's own previously published work without appropriate citation or disclosure. This also includes redundant or overlapping publication of substantially similar research without adequate justification and transparency.

Plagiarism constitutes a serious breach of academic integrity and publication ethics.

ZOOTEC Journal expects all authors to acknowledge the contributions of other researchers accurately and transparently and to ensure that their manuscripts comply with accepted standards of scholarly integrity.

3. Policy

3.1. Plagiarism Screening

All manuscripts submitted to ZOOTEC Journal are subject to plagiarism screening before entering the peer-review process.

The purpose of this screening is to assess textual similarity and identify potential instances of plagiarism or inappropriate reuse of previously published material.

3.2. Plagiarism Detection Tool

ZOOTEC Journal uses Turnitin, a text similarity detection tool, to screen submitted manuscripts and generate similarity reports for editorial assessment.

The reports are evaluated by the editorial team to identify potentially inappropriate textual overlap, plagiarism, and redundant publication.

Similarity reports are used as supporting evidence and do not independently establish whether plagiarism has occurred.

3.3. Similarity Index

ZOOTEC Journal applies an overall similarity index of 20% as an internal screening threshold.

Manuscripts with similarity scores exceeding 20% will undergo additional editorial evaluation. However, manuscripts with similarity scores of 20% or below may also be examined if potentially inappropriate textual overlap is identified.

The similarity index is not used as the sole criterion for determining plagiarism or making editorial decisions.

Editors will assess the nature, extent, context, and sources of textual similarities, including substantial overlap with individual sources, before determining whether further action is necessary.

Manuscripts containing confirmed plagiarism may be rejected regardless of their overall similarity scores.

3.4. Exclusions from Similarity Screening

Where technically applicable, the similarity-checking process will exclude the reference list or bibliography and properly formatted direct quotations with appropriate citations.

Other exclusions may be applied at the discretion of the editorial team when justified by the manuscript's content and the journal's screening procedures.

3.5. Consequences of Plagiarism

Before Publication

If plagiarism is identified in a submitted manuscript, the editorial team will evaluate the severity and nature of the case.

Manuscripts containing confirmed plagiarism may be rejected. The corresponding author will be notified of the editorial decision and, where appropriate, given an opportunity to respond.

For serious or extensive cases, the journal may notify the authors' affiliated institutions or take other appropriate actions.

After Publication

If plagiarism is suspected in a published article, ZOOTEC Journal will assess the allegation fairly and objectively in accordance with its Research Misconduct Policy, Correction and Retraction Policy, and relevant COPE guidelines.

Authors will be given an opportunity to respond to the concerns, and relevant institutions may be contacted when necessary.

If inappropriate attribution or limited textual overlap is identified without substantially compromising the integrity of the published work, a correction may be considered.

If serious plagiarism is confirmed and the integrity or reliability of the scholarly record is substantially compromised, the journal may retract the article.

An Expression of Concern may be issued when serious unresolved concerns exist or an investigation is ongoing and readers need to be informed.

All post-publication actions will be clearly documented and appropriately linked to the original published article.

4. Procedures for Implementing the Policy

4.1. Manuscript Screening

Upon receiving a new manuscript submission, the ZOOTEC Editorial Office will use Turnitin to generate a similarity report as part of the initial editorial assessment.

The screening process will be conducted before manuscripts proceed to external peer review.

4.2. Evaluation of Similarity Reports

The editorial team will carefully examine similarity reports to determine whether the identified similarities indicate potential plagiarism.

A high similarity index does not automatically constitute plagiarism, just as a low similarity index does not guarantee the absence of plagiarism.

Editors will consider the context of similarities, including common scientific terminology, standard methodological descriptions, properly cited materials, and other legitimate textual overlaps.

Particular attention will be given to inappropriate similarities involving research methods, experimental results, livestock production data, animal nutrition studies, figures, tables, and scientific interpretations.

4.3. Authors' Responsibilities

Authors are responsible for ensuring the originality of their submissions, providing accurate citations for all sources, acknowledging the contributions of other researchers, and obtaining permission to use copyrighted material whenever required.

Authors must also disclose any substantial overlap between their submitted manuscripts and previously published or concurrently submitted work.

4.4. Handling Suspected Plagiarism

If plagiarism is suspected at any stage of the editorial or publication process, ZOOTEC Journal will handle the case fairly, confidentially, and consistently with established publication ethics procedures.

Authors will be given an appropriate opportunity to explain or respond to the concerns before a final decision is made, where applicable.

The journal will determine appropriate actions based on available evidence, the seriousness of the alleged misconduct, and relevant publication ethics guidance.

4.5. Transparency and Communication

ZOOTEC Journal is committed to maintaining a transparent and consistent plagiarism-screening process.

Authors who have questions or concerns regarding similarity reports or editorial decisions may contact the journal's editorial office for clarification.

Official Website:

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

4.6. Policy Review and Improvement

ZOOTEC Journal will periodically review and update this policy and its implementation procedures to maintain alignment with recognized best practices and evolving standards in scholarly publishing and publication ethics.

5. Relevant COPE Resources

For further guidance on plagiarism, publication ethics, and the handling of concerns about published research, authors and editors may consult the following resources from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE):

ZOOTEC Journal is committed to maintaining originality, scientific integrity, transparency, and ethical responsibility in the publication of research in animal sciences. All submitted and published manuscripts are expected to comply with this Plagiarism Policy and the journal's established publication ethics standards.