Tropical Animal Production Investigations (ISSN: 1115-2540): is an official journal of the Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. Nigeria. It is a peer-reviewed scientific journal with specific focus on the promotion of the science of animals. The journal is intended to serve the needs of researchers and professionals from the scientific community and industry, as well as of policy makers and regulators. It covers a diverse, interdisciplinary range of topics that is unique in breadth and depth. The journal contains original research papers and critical reviews in all areas of Animal investigations including case reports highlighting important developments in the fields of Animal science and livestock industries. Topics covered include Animal nutrition, feed and feedstuffs including pastures and range management, toxicology, animal breeding and genetics, animal physiology, reproduction and bioclimatology, animal products and processing, animal management and production (monogastric and ruminants), animal behavior and welfare, dairy science, fisheries and aquaculture, animal health and mini/micro livestock investigations

Peer Review Policy – Tropical Animal Production Investigations

1. Review Policy

Tropical Animal Production Investigations (TAPI) upholds a rigorous double-blind peer review system to ensure the credibility, transparency, and quality of the scientific work we publish. In this process, the identities of both the authors and reviewers are concealed from each other.

We aim to:

• Maintain fair and objective evaluation of all submissions.
• Ensure ethical compliance and research integrity.
• Support authors through constructive critique.
• Provide timely and efficient peer review outcomes.

Editorial decisions are made based on scientific merit, relevance to the journal’s scope, clarity, originality, and adherence to ethical standards.

2. Review Process

The peer review process comprises the following steps:

1. Editorial Screening
• All manuscripts undergo a preliminary check by the editorial board for scope alignment, language clarity, plagiarism, and formatting.
2. Assignment to Reviewers
• Manuscripts are sent to two or more expert reviewers using a double-blind approach.
3. Peer Review Evaluation
• Reviewers provide structured evaluations and recommend one of four outcomes:
• Accept
• Minor Revision
• Major Revision
• Reject
4. Editorial Decision
• The editorial team considers all reviewer reports and makes a decision, which is communicated to the corresponding author.
5. Revision and Resubmission
• Authors are required to address all reviewer comments and resubmit within the assigned time frame.
6. Second Review (if required)
• Revised submissions may be returned to the original reviewers for re-evaluation.
7. Final Decision
• Accepted manuscripts proceed to copyediting, layout formatting, and eventual publication.

We strive to complete the peer review and decision process within 6–8 weeks of initial submission.

3. Review Guidelines

Reviewers are asked to assess manuscripts based on the following criteria:

• Scientific Validity and Originality
• Appropriateness of Methods and Analyses
• Clarity of Results and Soundness of Interpretation
• Language Quality and Manuscript Structure
• Ethical Conduct and Animal Welfare Compliance
• Contribution to Knowledge in Tropical Animal Production

Reviewers should provide detailed, constructive, and respectful comments, including both general feedback and specific suggestions for improvement.

4. Review Options (Timeframe and Reminders)

• Reviewers are typically given 21 days to complete their review.
• Automated reminders are sent 7 days before the deadline and again on the due date.
• Reviewers may request extensions if necessary, and manuscripts may be reassigned if deadlines are not met without communication.
• Reviewers are encouraged to decline invitations promptly if they are unavailable or feel unqualified.

5. Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers play a crucial role in upholding the integrity and quality of scientific publishing. Their responsibilities include:

• Providing unbiased, fair, and constructive feedback.
• Declaring any potential conflicts of interest before accepting a review.
• Maintaining confidentiality of all manuscript content.
• Notifying the editor if the work appears to involve ethical misconduct, plagiarism, or duplicate publication.
• Submitting the review within the agreed timeline.

6. Conflicts of Interest

Reviewers, editors, and authors must disclose any relationships or affiliations that could influence the review outcome. Examples of potential conflicts include:

• Financial or institutional ties
• Recent collaboration with the authors
• Personal or professional relationships

TAPI ensures that no reviewer with a declared conflict is assigned to evaluate the manuscript.

7. Ethical Oversight

Tropical Animal Production Investigations adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines. Ethical oversight includes:

• Plagiarism checks using reliable detection software
• Compliance with animal welfare and bioethics standards
• Proper citation of sources and authorship transparency
• Investigation of research misconduct or ethical violations

Authors are required to provide ethical approval statements and, where applicable, informed consent documentation.