Archivos de Zootecnia. Editorial report 2011

Archivos de Zootecnia. Informe editorial 2011

 

 

Gómez Castro, A.G.^*; López de Bustamante, M.C.; Perea Muñoz, J. and Arcos Castejón, J.

Editorial Office of Archivos de Zootecnia. Animal Production Department. University of Cordoba. Campus Rabanales. Cordoba. España
^*pa1gocag@uco.es

 

 

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SUMMARY

The editorial process of Archivos de Zootecnia during 2011 is reported below. A total of 373 manuscripts were received from 31 countries, mainly from Brazil (77%). Consequently, the language most frequently used in the manuscripts was Portuguese, followed by Spanish and English. The mean time from submission to publication of a manuscript was 700.4 days shorter than the 836.3 days lasted during 2010. The rejection rate was 52.3%. In 2011, 104 articles, 60 short notes and 5 reviews (total 169) were published by authors coming from 23 countries.

Key words: Scientific journals. Scientific manuscripts.

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RESUMEN

Se analiza el proceso editorial de Archivos de Zootecnia durante 2011. Se recibieron 373 manuscritos procedentes de 31 países, principalmente de Brasil (77%). Consecuentemente, el lenguaje más frecuentemente usado fue el portugués, seguido del español y el inglés. El tiempo medio entre recepción y publicación de un manuscrito fue de 700,4 dias, aun elevado, pero menor que el de 2010 (836.3 dias). La tasa de rechazo fue del 52,3%. En 2011 fueron publicados 104 artículos, 60 notas breves y 5 revisiones (169 trabajos en total) cuyos autores pertenecían a 23 países diferentes.

Palabras clave: Revistas científicas. Trabajos científicos.

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Introduction

The shortening of excessively long editorial times, specially from submission to printing, detected in previous editorial reports, continued as the principal target for 2011. As the economic crisis has increased, the difficult are remaining, and so, to increase the number of pages published yearly is a hard task. Nevertheless, during 2011 an important effort was done and the number of published pages was more than twice of those in 2010.

 

Methodological considerations

The editorial report of 2010 follows the same methodology described in the 2009 editorial report (Gómez Castro et al., 2010).

 

Received manuscripts

Figure 1 shows the annual progress of manuscripts received since the creation of our web site (May, 2005). The annual number of manuscripts received and managed by Archivos de Zootecnia has remarkably increased ever since. The number of manuscripts received during 2011 was 373 (generally within the scope of the journal), of which: 300 were articles, 25 short notes, and 48 reviews. Both the number of manuscripts and their type were similar to 2010.

 

 

There have been no significant changes in the country of origin of the manuscripts; therefore, are substantially similar to contributions received in past recent years (table I). The 77% of manuscripts received come from Brazil, while Brazilian authors represent a greater proportion (81.99%), due to the greather number of authors of these manuscripts. These proportions are higher than in previous years, possibly related to a positive evaluation of Archivos de Zootecnia in Brasil. Manuscripts signed by Mexican an Nigerian authors represented an additional 9.3%, and the remaining 8.7%, came from other 28 countries, in proportions very similar (all lower than 2.0%). Manuscripts received are from 13 different Spanish speaking countries, two Lusophone countries and other 16 countries speaking different languages some (English, French and Italian) official in the magazine.

 

 

As shown in table II, the origin of the manuscripts is reflected on the language used. However the Portuguese represents 69.65%, which is lower than the percentage of items of Portuguese speaking origin. Spanish was used in 16.8% of the manuscripts with a significant decrease on the former 25.4%; and English was the language used in 12.74%, similar to the previous year. Only very few of manuscripts received (0.81%) were written in French. As in previous years, there were no articles in Italian. It is remarkable that the percentage of manuscripts published in Spanish is higher than those received, while the trend is reversed in the manuscripts published in Portuguese.

 

 

Reviewing

Each manuscript submitted to Archivos de Zootecnia is first reviewed by members of the Editorial Board and Advisory Council. Subsequently, the Editorial Board at its plenary session, analyzes each submitted manuscript and decide if it must be reviewed (in which case at least two, and up to four reviewers, are assigned) or rejected. Reviewers are chosen from a repertoire of nearly 1000 reputed international experts from many different countries.

Archivos de Zootecnia is grateful to the 313 experts to whom at least one manuscript was sent to for review during 2011, as indicated in annex 1. As shown in table III, the average review time of 160.2 ± 149.4 was longer than previous years. However, the time from acceptance to publication changed from 629.9 ± 31.8 in 2010 to 448.5 ± 31.8 days in 2011, first consequence of the duplication of the annual number of pages. Consequently, the time between submission of a manuscript and its publication has decreased to 700.4 ± 309.2 days vs. 836.3 ± 31.1 in 2010. These waiting times continue too high and, although causes for this are attributed to all stages, frequently the authors themselves caused large delays during the correction of their manuscripts. As the page number was strongly increased the number of waiting manuscripts was reduced near to 0.

 

 

A more detailed analysis of these data shows that the management of the reviews and feedback from reviewers was longer than in previous year, the recuperation of delayed manuscripts is the principal reason, however, there is still a lot of work to do for minimize delays. In past years the delays were growing during the publication phase due to the large number of manuscripts received and approved, which far exceeds the maximum number of pages published yearly due to budgetary reasons. Nevertheless, along 2011 a considerable effort was done and the number of pages (and so, of manuscripts) have been duplicated.

The acceptance and rejection rate of manuscripts received, and completed, in 2011 reached 2.9% and 52.3% respectively. While the acceptance rate has decreased compared to previous years, the rejection has increased. The sum of these rates does not imply that only 44.8% of the manuscripts received during 2011 are pending a decision, since in fact there are more manuscripts in revision received during the precedent year.

 

Published papers

The journal Archivos de Zootecnia published 171 manuscripts during 2011 (table IV), doubling the number of manuscripts published in 2010. The manuscripts were published mainly in Portuguese (42.6%) and Spanish (39.0%); however, manuscripts published in Portuguese decreased, while the manuscripts published in Spanish increased in 2011 (table II). About 48.8% of the authors were Brazilians followed by Spanish (27.2%) authors and finally, the remaining authors are from other 21 countries (table I). Countries of origin of authors continue the trend of recent years. The average number of authors in 2011 was 5.8 ± 2.5/ manuscript. The average length of articles was 9.7 ± 1.7 pages, 4.0 ± 0.1 pages for short notes, and 15.0 ± 6.2 pages for reviews.

 

 

About 7% of the received manuscripts are written by authors coming from more than one country, in the case of published papers this figure rises to 11.2%. Members of the Publisher Institution or from Editorial Board in the previous year only accounted for 0.8 and 0.1 percent respectively, in 2011 rose to 1.6 and 2.3% respectively. In any case, in the previous and present year, are small ratios of endogamy in the contents of the journal (table V).

 

 

The topics covered in the manuscripts published by Archivos de Zootecnia are shown in table VI. The animal species studied were mainly, bovine, followed by ovine, poultry and alternative species. The studies mainly focused on feeding and foods, breeds and genetics, and reproduction. Topics continue the trend of recent years.

 

 

Difussion

Archivos de Zootecnia (online and paper editions) is included in about 400 directories or electronic databases (Agricultural BIOSIS, CAB abstracts, Latindex, Scopus, Scielo ...), making the journal readily found. No notable changes from the previous year in this regard. More than 2300000 (400000 hits during 2011) visits have been registered in Archivos de Zootecnia web page: http://www.uco.es/organiza/servicios/publica/az/az.htm

In conclusion, during 2011 Archivos de Zootecnia has reinforced its role as an outlet for scientific research regardless of the long editorial times. The problems detected in previous reports regarding the delay in publication have decreased; however, it is not enough, nevertheless the efforts done by Archivos de Zootecnia during 2011.

 

Annex 1. 2011 referees

Argentina: A. Guglielmone; A. Ohanian; D. Bedotti; D.Rochinotti; E. Morici; G. Gagliostro; J.C. Gómez; J.I. Arroquy; J.O. Azcona; J.P. Roux; J.R. Carrete; L. Romero; M. Benvenutti; M. Brizuela; M. de León; N. Aguilar; R. Martinez; O.M. González; P. Maldonado Vargas.

Argelia: H. Yakhlef.

Austria: M. Schuh.

Brasil: A. Aparecido; A. Borges Amorim; A. da Silva Mariante; A. de Moura Zanine; A. Eiko Murakami; A. Evangelista; A. Ferreira Barcelos; A. Ferriani Branco; A.G.C. Alves; A.J. Vieira Pires; A.L. Costa Cruz Borges; A.L. Finkler da Silveira; A.M. Corrêa Vieira; A.M. Vieira Batista; A. Martins Varela de Arruda; A. Moreira Ramos de Carvalho; A. Nunez de Madeiro; A.S. Chaves Veras; A. Sanpaio Carrijo; A. Saran Netto; A. Silva Madeiro; A. Silva; A. Soares Oliveira; A.E. Santana; B. Borges Deminicis; B. Murta Salomão; B.R. Cunha dos Santos; C. Abdalla Gomide; C. Bressan; C. Cachoni Pizzolante; C. Kiefer; C. Leal; C. Mistura; C. Scapinello; C. Thomaz; C.C. H.M. Malhado; D.A. Berto; D. Emygdio de Faria; D. Façanha; D. Jorge de Moura; D. Matos; D. Sávio Campos Paciullo; D. Soares da Silva; E. Oliveira Simões Saliba; E. Cavalcanti Pimenta Filho; E.M. Casartelli; E.R. Moraes Garcia; E. Shimoda; E. Tadeu Fialho; E. Vasconcelos Holanda Júnior; F.F. Ramos de Carvalho; F. Istvan Bankuti; F. Meurer; F. Nogueira Domingues; G. Giordano Pinto de Carvalho; G. Guarez Garcia; G.L. Colnago; G. Medeiros; G. Porto Barreto; G. Sampaio Gonçalves; H. Borba; H. Mazzuco; H. Oliveira Silva; H. Pandorfi; H. Pena Couto; I. Borges; I.J. da Silva; I. Zanella; J. Ribamar Marques; J.C. Batista Dubeux; J. Daros Malaquias Júnior; J.N. Miranda Neiva; J. Pereira Neves; J.R. Olalquiaga Pérez; J. Ribamar Privado Filho; J. Souza; J.A. Delfino Barbosa Filho; L.A.Kioshi Aoki Inoue; L.A. Nero; L.C. Cassol; L.da Silva Cabral; L.E. Edivaldo Pezzato; L.G. Nussio; L.G. Tavares Braga; L. Galvao Alburquerque; L. Geraseev; L.M. Zeoula; L. Paes Barreto; L. Rei de França; L.G.T. Braga; M.A. Cassiano Lara; M.A. Rotta; M.C. Carvalho Guimarães; M.C. Silva; M.C. Soares Fioravanti; M.C. Thomaz; M. de Andrade Ferreira; M.G. Morais; M.I. Marcondes; M.J. de Oliveira Almeida; M.J. Duarte; M.L. Nicodemo; M.L. Pires Bianchi; M.L.Rodrigues de Souza; M.M. Machado Ribeiro Azevêdo; M. Miele; M.N. Ribeiro; M. Pacheco Chediak Correa; M. Pereira da Silva; M.R. de Borba; M.S. da Rosa; M. Toledo; M. Vazquel Vidal Júnior; M. Verardino de Stéfani; M.F. Mota; N.Rocha Silva; N.M. Rodriguez; O. Cavalcanti; O.Gomes Pereira; O.M. de Moura; P.A. Victória de Oliveira; P.B. Ferraz Filho; P.C. de Aguiar Paiva; P. Marques Meyer; P.P. Mendonça; R. A. C. Correa Filho; R.A. Cardellino; R. Allan Bombardelli; R. Carrilho Canesin; R. Casarotto; R. de Oliveira Figueiredo; R. Germano; R.L. Marchão; R.M. Brito; R. Menezes; R. Olivera Cavalli; R. Pavesi Araujo; R.A. Reis; S.A. do Carmo Araújo; S. Benone; S. Endo; S. L. Salomón Cabral Filho; S.M. Franciscato Cozzolino; S.M. Salis; S. Raposo de Medeiros; T.C. Ribeiro Dias Koberstein; T. Domiciano Dantas Martis; T. Vasconcelos Melo; V. Fischer; V. Imbroisi Teixeira; V. Joana Pott; V. Rodrigues Vasconcelos; V.F.B. Roll; W. Massamitu Furuya; W. Motta Ferreira; W.R. Boscolo.

Canada: E. Martin Aregheore; M. Juarez. Canadá.

Chile: P. Toro Mujica; J. Piñeira; C. Aguilar.

Colombia: P. Cuesta; M. Piniero; G. García; C.J. Tobón; C. Herrera Farfán. A. Torres; A.R. Poveda Parra.

Cuba: E. Silveira Prado.

España: A. Arana; A. Diz Plaza; A. Calleja Suárez; A. Arguello Henríquez; A. Estevez; A.F. Chica Pérez; A. Francesch Vidal; A. González Martínez; A. González; A. Horcada Ibáñez; A.I. Garzón Sigler; V. Rodríguez-Estévez; V. Fernández Cabanas; T.J. Roy Pérez; R. Moyano Salvago; R.M. Nieto; R. Ginés; R. Dios Palomares; R. Celaya; R. Caballero; R. Blanco Sepúlveda; R. Acero de la Cruz; P. Zurita; P. Lara Velez; P. Albertí Lasalle; N. Nuñez Sanchez; M. Valera Córdoba; M. Sánchez Rodríguez; M.P. Ruiz Pérez-Cacho; M. P. Pérez Guzmán Palomares; M. Joy; M. Jover Cerda; M. Jodral Villarejo; M.J. Milán; M.J. López Asensio; M.J. Alcalde Aldea; M. Hidalgo Prieto; M. Hermoso; M. Gómez Fernández; M. Fondevila Camps; M. Fernández; M.A. Chaso Criado; L. Pérez; L.F. Gosálvez Lara; L. Bermejo; L. Alabart; J.C. Navarro; J. Tovar Andrada; J. Santiago Moreno; J. Martos Peinado; J. Madrid Sánchez; J.M. Serrano Caballero; J.M. Mancilla Leytón; J. M. León Jurado; J.M. Castel Genis; J.L. Vega Plá; J.L. Ares; J. Jordana Vidal; J.J. Garrido; J. García García; J. Folch Pera; J.F. Pérez Hernández; J.F. Aguilera Sánchez; J. Dorado; J. Capote; J. Cañón Ferreras; J. Balcells; J.A. Cebrian Pérez; I. Vázquez González; I. Berruga; I. Abdel Gálvez; H. Galán Soldevilla; G. Santoma; F. Ruíz de Huidobro; A. de Villapadierna; F.J. Berral de la Rosa; E. Gómez Blasco; E. Camacho Vallejo; E. Berriatúa; D. Sola-Oriol; D. Carrión Pardo; C. Vieira Aller; C. Sosa; C. Sañudo Astiz; C. Cervera Fras; C. Barba Capote; A. Titos Moreno; A. Sanz Rus; A. Rodriguez de Ledesma; A. Poto Remacha; A. Olaizola; A. Méndez Sánchez; A. Martínez Teruel; A. Martínez Martínez; A. Martínez Fernández; P. García Herradon; M.R. Fresno Vaquero; A.M. Serrano González; A.L. Martínez Marín; C. García Romero; M. Fondevila Camps; J. Dorado; P. Peñalver; R. Ginés.

Francia: P. Sans; M. Meuret.

Italia: V. Landi; S. Gigli; E. Lasagna.

México: M. Meneses-Mayo; M. González Alcorta; M.G. Rodríguez Galván; M.A. Galina Hidalgo; J. Quiroz Valiente; A. Diaz Cruz; A. Cesin Vargas; G. Mascorro; F.J.V. Franco Guerra. Nigeria : A.O. Oni; S.N. Ukachukwu.

Panamá: A. Villalobos. Paraguay: A. Yanosky Farrán.

República Dominicana: D. Valerio Cabrera. USA: J. Coelho; R. Adedayo Hamzat. Uruguay: C. Mas; F. Olmos; W. Ayala; Y. Acosta

Venezuela: V. De Basilio; Z. Chirinos.

 

References

Gómez Castro, A.G., López de Bustamante, M.C., Perea Muñoz, J. and Arcos Castejón, J. 2010. Archivos de Zootecnia. Editorial report 2009. Arch Zootec, 59: 3-10.         [ Links ]