Guidelines for Authors

Submission of Papers

Authors wishing to submit Peer Reviewed Papers must first have their Abstracts accepted by the GGAA2010 Organizing Committee. The deadline for abstract submission if it is for peer review is March 1, 2010. For information regarding Abstract submission, see the Call for Papers Overview

The deadline for submission of papers is July 1, 2010. Authors are requested to read the following guidelines carefully and adhere to all standards requested before submitting their paper.

Papers for the GGAA 2010 special issue of Animal Feed Science & Technology are to be submitted directly to the GGAA2010 committee and NOT via the AFST website. Failure to do this will mean your paper may not be accepted for publication in the conference special issue of AFST.

For more information about GGAA2010 abstracts and papers, please contact the Conference Chair at info@gga2010.org

Guidelines for Authors

Submission checklist

It is hoped that this list will be useful during the final checking of an article prior to sending it to the journal's Editor for review. Please consult this Guide for Authors for further details of any item.

Ensure that the following items are present:

• One Author designated as corresponding Author:
  • E-mail address
  • Full postal address
  • Telephone and fax numbers
• All necessary files have been uploaded
  • Keywords
  • All figure captions
  • All tables (including title, description, footnotes)
• Further considerations
  • Manuscript has been "spellchecked" and "grammar-checked"
  • References are in the correct format for this journal
  • All references mentioned in the Reference list are cited in the text, and vice versa
  • Permission has been obtained for use of copyrighted material from other sources (including the Web)
  • color figures are clearly marked as being intended for color reproduction on the Web (free of charge) and in print or to be reproduced in color on the Web (free of charge) and in black-and-white in print
  • If only color on the Web is required, black and white versions of the figures are also supplied for printing purposes

Additional Information

Authors should use the 'Track Changes' option when revising their manuscripts, so that any changes made to the original submission are easily visible to the Editors. Those revised manuscripts upon which the changes are not clear may be returned to the author.

Specific comments made in the Author Comments in response to referees' comments must be organised clearly. For example, use the same numbering system as the referee, or use 2 columns of which one states the comment and the other the response.

Before you Begin

Submission declaration

Submission of an article implies that the work described has not been published previously (except in the form of an abstract or as part of a published lecture or academic thesis), that it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere, that its publication is approved by all authors and tacitly or explicitly by the responsible authorities where the work was carried out, and that, if accepted, it will not be published elsewhere in the same form, in English or in any other language, without the written consent of the copyright-holder.

Copyright

Upon acceptance of an article, authors will be asked to complete a 'Journal Publishing Agreement' (for more information on this and copyright see http://www.elsevier.com/copyright ). Acceptance of the agreement will ensure the widest possible dissemination of information. An e-mail will be sent to the corresponding author confirming receipt of the manuscript together with a 'Journal Publishing Agreement' form or a link to the online version of this agreement. Subscribers may reproduce tables of contents or prepare lists of articles including abstracts for internal circulation within their institutions. Permission of the Publisher is required for resale or distribution outside the institution and for all other derivative works, including compilations and translations (please consult http://www.elsevier.com/permissions ). If excerpts from other copyrighted works are included, the author(s) must obtain written permission from the copyright owners and credit the source(s) in the article. Elsevier has preprinted forms for use by authors in these cases: please consult http://www.elsevier.com/permissions .

Retained author rights

As an author you (or your employer or institution) retain certain rights; for details you are referred to: http://www.elsevier.com/authorsrights .

Ethics in Publishing

For information on Ethics in Publishing and Ethical guidelines for journal publication see http://www.elsevier.com/publishingethics and http://www.elsevier.com/ethicalguidelines .

Policy and ethics

The work described in your article must have been carried out in accordance with the EC Directive 86/609/EEC for animal experiments http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/lab_animals/legislation_en.htm . This must be stated at an appropriate point in the article.

Conflict of interest

All authors are requested to disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest including any financial, personal or other relationships with other people or organizations within three years of beginning the submitted work that could inappropriately influence, or be perceived to influence, their work. See also http://www.elsevier.com/conflictsofinterest .

Role of the funding source

You are requested to identify who provided financial support for the conduct of the research and/or preparation of the article and to briefly describe the role of the sponsor(s), if any, in study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the paper for publication. If the funding source(s) had no such involvement then this should be stated. Please see http://www.elsevier.com/funding .

Funding body agreements and policies

Elsevier has established agreements and developed policies to allow authors whose articles appear in journals published by Elsevier, to comply with potential manuscript archiving requirements as specified as conditions of their grant awards. To learn more about existing agreements and policies please visit http://www.elsevier.com/fundingbodies.

Preparation of Manuscript

Use past tense for current findings, and the present tense for "truths" and hypotheses.

Language and language services

Please write your text in good English (American or British usage is accepted, but not a mixture of these). Authors who require information about language editing and copyediting services pre- and post-submission please visit http://www.elsevier.com/languagepolishing or our customer support site at http://epsupport.elsevier.com for more information. Please note Elsevier neither endorses nor takes responsibility for any products, goods or services offered by outside vendors through our services or in any advertising. For more information please refer to our Terms & Conditions: http://www.elsevier.com/termsandconditions.

Article Structure

Manuscripts should have numbered lines, with wide margins and double spacing throughout, i.e. also for abstracts, footnotes and references. Every page of the manuscript, including the title page, references, tables, etc., should be numbered continuously. However, in the text no reference should be made to page numbers; if necessary, one may refer to sections. Avoid excessive usage of italics to emphasize part of the text.

Introduction

State the objectives of the work and provide an adequate background, avoiding a detailed literature survey or a summary of the results.

Material and methods

Provide sufficient detail to allow the work to be reproduced. Methods already published should be indicated by a reference: only relevant modifications should be described.

If reference is made to AOAC, ISO or similar analytical procedure(s), the specific procedure identification number(s) must be cited. A number of references for neutral and acid detergent fibre (NDF, ADF) assays exist, and an alternative reference to the now out-of-print USDA Agriculture Handbook 379 must be used. There are many options for NDF and ADF assays (e.g. sodium sulfite, alpha amylase, residual ash), which must be specified in the text. For more details see the editorial in Vol. 118/3-4.

The following definitions should be used, as appropriate:

1. aNDFom-NDF assayed with a heat stable amylase and expressed exclusive of residual ash.
2. NDFom-NDF not assayed with a heat stable amylase and expressed exclusive of residual ash.
3. aNDF-NDF assayed with a heat stable amylase and expressed inclusive of residual ash.
4. NDF-NDF assayed without a heat stable amylase and expressed inclusive of residual ash.
5. ADFom-ADF expressed exclusive of residual ash.
6. ADF-ADF expressed inclusive of residual ash.
7. Lignin (sa)-Lignin determined by solubilization of cellulose with sulphuric acid.
8. Lignin (pm)-Lignin determined by oxidation of lignin with permanganate.

While expressions of NDF and ADF inclusive of residual ash will continue to be acceptable (i.e., the terms aNDF, NDF and ADF above), the Editors-in-Chief highly recommend reporting all fibre values, including digestibilities, on an OM basis. Silica is partially soluble in ND, is quantitatively recovered in AD, and so may contribute to the 'fibre' values and to subsequent digestibility coefficients.

Reporting 'hemicellulose' values as the difference between NDF and ADF is generally only acceptable if the analyses have been sequential on the same sample. Crude fibre (CF), nitrogen-free extract (NFE) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) are not acceptable terms for describing feeds and should only be referred to in a historical context.

Results

Results should be clear and concise.

Discussion

This should explore the significance of the results of the work, not repeat them. Avoid extensive citations and discussion of published literature. Combined 'Results and Discussion' sections are only acceptable for 'Short Communications', except under compelling circumstances.

Conclusions

The main conclusions of the study may be presented in a short Conclusions section, which may stand alone or form a subsection of a Discussion or Results and Discussion section.

Essential title page information

Title. Concise and informative. Titles are often used in information-retrieval systems. Avoid abbreviations and formulae where possible.
Author names and affiliations. Where the family name may be ambiguous (e.g., a double name), please indicate this clearly. Present the authors' affiliation addresses (where the actual work was done) below the names. Indicate all affiliations with a lower-case superscript letter immediately after the author's name and in front of the appropriate address. Provide the full postal address of each affiliation, including the country name, and, if available, the e-mail address of each author.
Corresponding author. Clearly indicate who will handle correspondence at all stages of refereeing and publication, also post-publication. Ensure that telephone and fax numbers (with country and area code) are provided in addition to the e-mail address and the complete postal address.
Present/permanent address. If an author has moved since the work described in the article was done, or was visiting at the time, a "Present address" (or "Permanent address") may be indicated as a footnote to that author's name. The address at which the author actually did the work must be retained as the main, affiliation address. Superscript Arabic numerals are used for such footnotes.

Abstract

The abstract should be clear, descriptive and not longer than 400 words. It should contain the following specific information: purpose of study; experimental treatments used; results obtained, preferably with quantitative data; significance of findings; conclusions; implications of results if appropriate.

Keywords

Immediately after the abstract, provide a maximum of 6 keywords, using American spelling and avoiding general and plural terms and multiple concepts (avoid, for example, "and", "of"). Be sparing with abbreviations: only abbreviations firmly established in the field may be eligible. These keywords will be used for indexing purposes.

Abbreviations

Define abbreviations that are not standard in this field in a footnote to be placed on the first page of the article. Such abbreviations that are unavoidable in the abstract must be defined at their first mention there, as well as in the footnote. Ensure consistency of abbreviations throughout the article.

Acknowledgements

Collate acknowledgements in a separate section at the end of the article before the references and do not, therefore, include them on the title page, as a footnote to the title or otherwise. List here those individuals who provided help during the research (e.g., providing language help, writing assistance or proof reading the article, etc.).

Nomenclature and units

Follow internationally accepted rules and conventions: use the international system of units (SI). If other quantities are mentioned, give their equivalent in SI. You are urged to consult IUB: Biochemical Nomenclature and Related Documents: http://www.chem.qmw.ac.uk/iubmb/ for further information. Authors and Editors are, by general agreement, obliged to accept the rules governing biological nomenclature, as laid down in the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, the International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria, and the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. All biotica (crops, plants, insects, birds, mammals, etc.) should be identified by their scientific names when the English term is first used, with the exception of common domestic animals. All biocides and other organic compounds must be identified by their Geneva names when first used in the text. Active ingredients of all formulations should be likewise identified.

SI or SI-derived units should be used throughout (e.g. MJ and not Kcal for energy concentrations). Concentrations should be expressed on a 'per kg' basis (w/w); however, w/v, v/v, mol/mol or M may be accepted depending on the circumstances. In addition, 'units' and 'equivalents' are acceptable. Normality should be avoided, as it may be ambiguous for certain acids. If analytical standards have been used, they should be specified by name (e.g. yeast RNA) and form (e.g. lactose monohydrate). Percents should only be used when describing a relative increase or decrease in a response. Proportions should be maximum 1.0 or ≤1.0. For more details see the editorial in Vol. 118/3-4.

Percent is only used to indicate relative changes. For composition, both w/w (often solids composition g/kg) and w/v (e.g. g/L), v/v (e.g. m/L), mol/mol or M can be accepted depending on the circumstances. Specify units (e.g. g/L) and never as percent.

Digestibility/metabolisability and degradability should always be expressed as a coefficient (not %), and the content of, for example, the digestible component should be expressed as g/kg: thus, the coefficient of digestibility of dry matter is 0.8, while the content of digestible dry matter is 800g/kg. A distinction between true and apparent digestibility should be made, as well as between faecal and ileal (e.g. coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility - CTTAD). The terms 'availability' and 'bioavailability' should be avoided without definition in context.

In chemical formulae, valence of ions should be given as, e.g. Ca2+, not as Ca++. Isotope numbers should precede the symbols e.g. 18O. The repeated use of chemical formulae in the text is to be avoided where reasonably possible; instead, the name of the compound should be given in full. Exceptions may be made in the case of a very long name occurring very frequently or in the case of a compound being described as the end product of a gravimetric determination (e.g. phosphate as P2O5).

Math formulae

Present simple formulae in the line of normal text where possible and use the solidus (/) instead of a horizontal line for small fractional terms, e.g., X/Y. In principle, variables are to be presented in italics. Powers of e are often more conveniently denoted by exp. Number consecutively any equations that have to be displayed separately from the text (if referred to explicitly in the text).
If differences between treatments are statistically significant, this should be indicated by adding the actual 'P' value obtained. If 0.10 > P > 0.05, then differences can be considered to suggest a trend, or tendency, to a difference, but the actual 'P' value should be stated. Further information on this issue can be found in Animal Feed Science and Technology Vol. 129/1-2.

Spaces should be used between all values and units, except for the following: Between the value and degrees or percent. In equations around * and /. In probability expressions (P<0.05). When probability values are given, the 'P' should be a capital letter.

Electronic artwork

General points

• Make sure you use uniform lettering and sizing of your original artwork.
• Save text in illustrations as "graphics" or enclose the font.
• Only use the following fonts in your illustrations: Arial, Courier, Times, Symbol.
• Number the illustrations according to their sequence in the text.
• Use a logical naming convention for your artwork files.
• Provide captions to illustrations separately.
• Produce images near to the desired size of the printed version.
• Submit each figure as a separate file.

A detailed guide on electronic artwork is available on our website: http://www.elsevier.com/artworkinstructions
You are urged to visit this site; some excerpts from the detailed information are given here.
Formats Regardless of the application used, when your electronic artwork is finalised, please "save as" or convert the images to one of the following formats (note the resolution requirements for line drawings, halftones, and line/halftone combinations given below):
EPS: Vector drawings. Embed the font or save the text as "graphics".
TIFF: color or grayscale photographs (halftones): always use a minimum of 300 dpi.
TIFF: Bitmapped line drawings: use a minimum of 1000 dpi.
TIFF: Combinations bitmapped line/half-tone (color or grayscale): a minimum of 500 dpi is required.
DOC, XLS or PPT: If your electronic artwork is created in any of these Microsoft Office applications please supply "as is".
Please do not:

• Supply embedded graphics in your wordprocessor (spreadsheet, presentation) document;
• Supply files that are optimised for screen use (like GIF, BMP, PICT, WPG); the resolution is too low;
• Supply files that are too low in resolution;
• Submit graphics that are disproportionately large for the content.

All data in figures should have a measure of variation either on the plot (e.g., error bars), in the figure legend itself, or by reference to a table with measures of variation in the figure legend.

Explanations should be given in the figure legend(s). Drawn text in the figures should be kept to a minimum.

If a scale is given, use bar scales (instead of numerical scales) that must be changed with reduction.

Color artwork

Please make sure that artwork files are in an acceptable format (TIFF, EPS or MS Office files) and with the correct resolution. If, together with your accepted article, you submit usable color figures then Elsevier will ensure, at no additional charge, that these figures will appear in color on the Web (e.g., ScienceDirect and other sites) regardless of whether or not these illustrations are reproduced in color in the printed version. For color reproduction in print, you will receive information regarding the costs from Elsevier after receipt of your accepted article. Please indicate your preference for color in print or on the Web only. For further information on the preparation of electronic artwork, please see http://www.elsevier.com/artworkinstructions .
Please note: Because of technical complications which can arise by converting color figures to "gray scale" (for the printed version should you not opt for color in print) please submit in addition usable black and white versions of all the color illustrations.

Tables

Number tables consecutively in accordance with their appearance in the text. Place footnotes to tables below the table body and indicate them with superscript lowercase letters. Avoid vertical rules. Be sparing in the use of tables and ensure that the data presented in tables do not duplicate results described elsewhere in the article.

References

All publications cited in the text should be presented in a list of references following the text of the manuscript. The manuscript should be carefully checked to ensure that the spelling of authors' names and dates are exactly the same in the text as in the reference list. The accuracy of the references is the responsibility of the author(s).

References published in other than the English language should be avoided, but are acceptable if they include an English language 'Abstract' and the number of non-English language references cited are reasonable (in the view of the handling Editor) relative to the total number of references cited.

In the text refer to the author's name (without initial) and year of publication, followed - if necessary - by a short reference to appropriate pages. Examples: "Since Peterson (1988) has shown that...". "This is in agreement with results obtained later (Kramer, 1989, pp. 12-16)".

If reference is made in the text to a publication written by more than two authors, the name of the first author should be used followed by "et al.". This indication, however, should never be used in the list of references. In this list names of first author and co-authors should be mentioned.

References cited together in the text should be arranged chronologically. The list of references should be arranged alphabetically on authors' names, and chronologically per author. If an author's name in the list is also mentioned with co-authors the following order should be used: publications of the single author, arranged according to publication dates - publications of the same author with one co-author - publications of the author with more than one co-author. Publications by the same author(s) in the same year should be listed as 2001a, 2001b, etc.

Web references

As a minimum, the full URL should be given. Any further information, if known (DOI, author names, dates, reference to a source publication, etc.), should also be given. Web references can be listed separately (e.g., after the reference list) under a different heading if desired, or can be included in the reference list.

Reference style

Text: All citations in the text should refer to:

1. Single author: the author's name (without initials, unless there is ambiguity) and the year of publication;
2. Two authors: both authors' names and the year of publication;
3. Three or more authors: first author's name followed by "et al." and the year of publication.

Citations may be made directly (or parenthetically). Groups of references should be listed first alphabetically, then chronologically.
Examples: "as demonstrated (Allan, 1996a, 1996b, 1999; Allan and Jones, 1995). Kramer et al. (2000) have recently shown ...."

List: References should be arranged first alphabetically and then further sorted chronologically if necessary. More than one reference from the same author(s) in the same year must be identified by the letters "a", "b", "c", etc., placed after the year of publication.
Examples:
Reference to a journal publication:
Van der Geer, J., Hanraads, J.A.J., Lupton, R.A., 2000. The art of writing a scientific article. J. Sci. Commun. 163, 51-59.
Reference to a book:
Strunk Jr., W., White, E.B., 1979. The Elements of Style, third ed. Macmillan, New York.
Reference to a chapter in an edited book:
Mettam, G.R., Adams, L.B., 1999. How to prepare an electronic version of your article, in: Jones, B.S., Smith , R.Z. (Eds.), Introduction to the Electronic Age. E-Publishing Inc., New York, pp. 281-304.
References concerning unpublished data and "personal communications" should not be cited in the reference list but may be mentioned in the text.

Journal abbreviations source

Journal names should be abbreviated according to
Index Medicus journal abbreviations: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/tsd/serials/lji.html;
List of serial title word abbreviations: http://www.issn.org/2-22661-LTWA-online.php;
CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service): http://www.cas.org/sent.html.