Before submitting a manuscript, authors are strongly advised to read these Guidelines for Authors carefully. Manuscripts that do not comply with NVJ's formatting, ethical, and submission requirements may be returned without review.

Submission to NVJ implies that the authors:

• Have read and understood these guidelines
• Agree to comply with NVJ's terms and conditions
• Confirm the originality and exclusivity of the work

1. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SUBMISSION
   1. Legal Warranties
      By submitting a manuscript to the Nepal Veterinary Journal, authors confirm that the work is original and that they hold the legal right to publish it. The submission must not contain defamatory, plagiarized, or otherwise unlawful content. Authors must also ensure that all necessary permissions have been obtained for the use of any third-party material, including figures, tables, or data reproduced from other sources.
   2. AI Use Disclosure
      As outlined in Section 3, authors may use AI-based tools only for grammar or language editing. Any such use must be transparently disclosed in the manuscript text, either in the "Acknowledgements" section or in a separate "AI Use Statement." Undisclosed or inappropriate use of AI will be treated as a breach of publication ethics.
   3. Data Retention and Availability
      Authors are required to retain the underlying research data that support their findings for a minimum of three years after publication. Upon reasonable request, authors should make these data available to editors, reviewers, or legitimate third parties for verification and reproducibility purposes.
   4. Exclusivity, Originality, and Permissions
      Submission of a manuscript to NVJ implies that it is not under review by another journal and has not been previously published in whole or in substantial part. Authors are responsible for ensuring that their submission does not violate any prior publication agreements or copyright restrictions.
   5. Sanctions for Misconduct
      Breach of these terms may result in rejection, retraction, author sanctions, and institutional notification.
2. POLICIES ON ETHICS, INTEGRITY, AND CONDUCT
   1. Publication Ethics and COPE Alignment
      NVJ adheres to COPE's Code of Conduct and Best Practices. Misconduct includes data fabrication, data falsification, plagiarism, redundant/duplicate publication, inappropriate authorship, undisclosed conflicts, unethical animal/human research, and manipulation of images/data. Sanctions include rejection, retraction, and notification to the institution.
   2. Animal Research Ethics
      Authors must include a clear statement in the Materials and Methods section describing the ethical approval for all research involving animals, humans, or biological samples. The approval must be obtained from appropriate regulatory bodies such as Institutional Animal Ethics Committees of universities, the Nepal Veterinary Council, or other equivalent authorized institutions.
   3. Human Participants, Client/Owner Consent, and Biosafety
      Studies involving human participants, such as farmer surveys or interviews, must obtain prior approval from an institutional ethics committee and include a statement confirming informed consent from all participants. For manuscripts that include case images or client-related data, written owner or client consent must be obtained, and all personally identifiable details must be removed unless explicit permission for publication is provided. Authors must also describe all biosafety and biosecurity procedures followed when handling infectious materials, pathogens, or hazardous biological samples.
   4. Authorship Criteria and CRediT Roles
      Authorship requires substantial contributions to the conception and design of the study, acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data, drafting or critical revision of the manuscript, final approval of the version to be published, and accountability for the accuracy and integrity of the work. Each author's specific contribution must be described using the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) system. The corresponding author must ensure that all listed authors meet authorship criteria and that the author list is final at submission. Authors are encouraged to visit the official CRediT taxonomy website (https://credit.niso/) for detailed definitions of contributor roles.
   5. Authorship Changes
      Authors are expected to carefully consider the list and order of authors before submitting their manuscript and provide the final, definitive author list at the time of the original submission. Any addition, deletion, or rearrangement of author names in the authorship list should be requested only before the manuscript is accepted for publication and must include a clear justification with written consent from all listed authors. Once the manuscript has been accepted, no changes to authorship (including addition, deletion, or changes in the order) will be permitted.
   6. Conflicts of Interest and Funding Transparency
      Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial or non‑financial interests that could influence interpretation (e.g., consultancies, grants, patents, personal relationships). Funding sources and the funder's role must be stated (design, data, writing, decision).
   7. Data Integrity, Availability, and Retention
      Authors are required to retain all underlying research data, records, and materials for a minimum period of three years after publication to enable verification or replication of findings if requested. Each manuscript must include a Data Availability Statement indicating where and how the supporting data can be accessed such as through an open repository with a DOI, availability upon reasonable request from the corresponding author, or with justified restrictions due to privacy, legal, or proprietary limitations.
   8. Preprints, Prior Publication, and Concurrent Submission
      NVJ permits prior posting on recognized preprint servers. Authors must disclose any preprint; the submitted manuscript must not be under consideration elsewhere.
   9. Plagiarism, Redundancy, and Text Recycling
      Similarity screening will be performed; manuscripts with substantial overlap (>15%, excluding references/methods) may be returned or rejected. Redundant publications are prohibited; prior data reuse must be transparently cited and justified.
   10. Image, Figure, and AI‑Generated Content Integrity
       • No unjustified image manipulation (e.g., selective enhancement, splicing without disclosure). Provide original, unprocessed images on request.
       • Generative AI (such as ChatGPT, Co-Pilot, Gemini, Grok etc) generated text or images are not allowed; AI can only be used for grammar correction with disclosure (Section 3).
   11. Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and Retractions
       Material errors must be corrected promptly via errata or corrigenda. Where integrity is in question, NVJ may publish an Expression of Concern. Proven misconduct may lead to retraction with a transparent notice and DOI linkages.
3. USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
   1. Permitted Use
      Authors may use AI-based tools only for improving grammar, spelling, or language clarity. Such tools can help refine phrasing or readability, but they must not be used to create or modify the intellectual content of the manuscript.
   2. Prohibited Use
      AI tools must not be used to generate original text, data, images, literature summaries, or analytical content. The use of AI to produce or synthesize material in place of the authors' own interpretation and writing is not allowed. All content and analysis must be the authors' own work.
   3. Disclosure Statement
      If AI tools were used for language editing, authors must clearly state this in the "Acknowledgements" section or in a separate "AI Use Statement." The following text is recommended:
      "The authors used an AI-based tool (e.g., ChatGPT, Grammarly) solely for grammar and language editing. No text, data, or images were generated by AI. The authors accept full responsibility for the content."
   4. Sanctions
      Undisclosed or prohibited AI use may result in rejection, retraction, and notification to institutions/funders.
4. MANUSCRIPT CATEGORIES AND DETAILED SPECIFICATIONS
   Word counts exclude abstract, references, tables, and figures unless noted.
   1. Original Research Articles
      • Abstract: ≤250 words, structured (without keywords).
      • Keywords: 4-6 words
      • Main text: 3,500--6,000 words; up to 8 figures/tables.
      • Reporting: ARRIVE (animal), STROBE‑Vet (observational), CONSORT‑Vet (trials).
   2. Review Articles
      • Narrative/Scoping: 4,000--8,000 words; ≤10 figures/tables.
      • Systematic Reviews: 5,000--10,000 words
   3. Short Communications
      • 1,500--3,000 words; ≤4 items (tables/figures); brief methods; novel, time‑sensitive.
   4. Case Reports
      • 1,500--3,500 words; de‑identification; images ≥300 dpi.
      • Include signalment, history, diagnostics, treatment/therapy, outcomes, learning points.
   5. Policy/Extension/Education Papers
      • 2,000--4,000 words; practical implications and target audience specified.
   6. Technical Notes
      • ≤3,000 words; validation data comparing to standard methods; limitations stated.
   7. Letters to the Editor
      • ≤1,000 words; ≤10 references; no new data required; scholarly tone.
   8. Perspectives/Commentaries
      • 1,500--3,000 words; timely viewpoints grounded in evidence.
5. MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION AND FORMATTING
   1. General Requirements
      • File: Microsoft Word (.docx), single‑spaced, A4; Times New Roman 12 pt.
      • Line numbers (continuous) and page numbers required.
      • Separate title page (See section 6.2).
   2. Manuscript Structure
      A well-structured manuscript ensures clarity, logical flow, and consistency across submissions. Authors should organize their papers in the following sequence:
      • Title Page
      • Abstract and Keywords
      • List of Abbreviations
      • Introduction
      • Materials and Methods
      • Results
      • Discussion
      • Conclusion
      • Limitations of Study (if any)
      • Acknowledgements
      • Funding Statement
      • Conflict of Interest
      • Author Contribution
      • References
      • Tables
      • Figures
      • Supplementary Materials (if any)

      Each section should be clearly labeled and begin on a new page where appropriate. Tables should appear after the References, followed by Figures on separate pages. This standardized order facilitates efficient peer review, improves readability, and maintains uniform presentation across all articles published in the Nepal Veterinary Journal.

   3. Title Page
      • A well-prepared title page provides complete author information and ensures consistent presentation across submissions. It should include a unique and informative title (Title Case), followed by the full names of all authors, their affiliations (Department, Institution, City, Postal Code, and Country), and the corresponding author's email and ORCID iD. Author names should be written in full (First name + Middle initial + Family name). Titles (Dr., Prof.) and academic degrees (PhD, MSc, etc.) should not be included. For authors without institutional affiliation, use "Independent Researcher, City, Country." Providing ORCID iDs for all authors is encouraged to ensure accurate indexing and author identification.
      • Author names should include numerical superscripts corresponding to their institutional affiliations. The corresponding author should be denoted by a Greek symbol (e.g., *, #, †, ‡) after their name.
      • Example

        Title [Title Case]
        Binod Pokhrel¹, Himal Luitel^2,* and Gokarna Gautam^{3
        1}School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, USA, 24060
        ²Center for Biotechnology, Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan
        ³Faculty of Animal Science, Veterinary Science and Fisheries, Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan
        *Corresponding Author: drhimal@gmail.com

   4. Abstract and Keywords
      • The abstract should be structured and concise, summarizing the essential elements of the study under the subheadings Background, Objective, Methods, Results, and Conclusion. It should clearly present the purpose, approach, main findings, and key implications of the research without including references, tables, figures, or unexplained abbreviations. A well-structured abstract allows readers to understand the significance and scope of the study quickly.
      • 4--6 keywords (in alphabetical order) separated by semicolon.
   5. List of Abbreviations

      Authors should include a list of all non-standard abbreviations used in the manuscript along with their full forms. Each abbreviation must be defined at its first mention in the text, also need to be repeated in tables or figures. The list should not include common scientific abbreviations such as units of measurement, chemical symbols, or standard amino acid abbreviations (e.g., kg, cm, P, Na, Lys). Plural abbreviations should not include an added "s." Authors are encouraged to use abbreviations sparingly to maintain clarity and readability. Do not abbreviate "Figure" or "Table" in text (e.g., avoid Fig. or Tab.).

   6. Text Sections
      • Introduction: Provide the background, problem context, rationale, and clear objectives or hypotheses of the study.
      • Materials and Methods: Describe the study design, animals or samples used (species, breed, source), data collection methods, analytical or laboratory procedures, and statistical approaches. Ethical approvals must be mentioned here.
      • Results: Present findings clearly and concisely, supported by appropriate tables and figures. Authors may present data in a descriptive or inferential form as suitable; use of effect sizes, primary/secondary outcomes, or exact p-values is optional.
      • Discussion: Interpret the results in relation to existing knowledge, highlighting the scientific or practical implications of the findings. Address study limitations and possible areas for further research.
      • Conclusion: Provide concise, evidence-based takeaways that summarize the key message of the paper.
      • Acknowledgements: Briefly recognize individuals, institutions, or organizations that supported the work but are not listed as authors.
      • Funding Statement: Declare all financial support and funding sources, including grant numbers if available. If no funding was received, state "This research received no specific grant from any funding agency.
      • Conflict of Interest: All authors must disclose any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could influence the research. If there are none, state "The authors declare no conflict of interest.
      • Author Contribution: Each author's specific role in the research and manuscript preparation must be clearly defined using the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) system (e.g., Conceptualization, Methodology, Data Curation, Writing -- Original Draft, Writing -- Review & Editing, Supervision, Funding Acquisition). The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all listed authors meet authorship criteria and that no qualified contributor is omitted.
   7. Tables and Figures
      • All tables and figures should be numbered in sequence and cited in the text in the order they appear. Each must have a clear, descriptive title and legend that allows readers to understand the content without referring to the main text. Tables and figures should be self-explanatory, concise, and used only when they enhance the clarity to the results. Avoid repeating the same data in both text and visuals. Ensure that figure labels, units, and symbols are consistent and easy to read.
      • All tables and figures should be placed after the main text and references, each on a separate page, with tables appearing first, followed by figures.
      • Tables must be prepared using the table feature in Microsoft Word and should not be inserted as images. Avoid color backgrounds in tables.
      • Use clear, high-quality images (300--600 PPI) in TIFF, JPEG, or PNG format. Any image adjustments should be minimal and clearly described, and original files must be retained. If composite images are used, mark the boundaries between combined sections clearly.
      • Table titles and figure legends should be written in Times New Roman, 12 pt single-spaced, and placed above tables and below figures.
   8. Statistical Reporting
      Authors should clearly describe any statistical analyses performed, including the methods used, the level of significance applied, and the name and version of the statistical software employed. The description should be appropriate to the nature of the study, whether descriptive or inferential, ensuring that readers can understand how data were analyzed and interpreted. Excessive statistical detail is not required, but sufficient information should be provided to ensure transparency and reproducibility.
   9. Units, Nomenclature, and Style

      All measurements must be expressed in SI units, following the International System of Units (SI) as defined by the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) (https://www.bipm.org/). Scientific names of organisms should comply with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) (https://www.iczn.org/the-code/) and be written in italics, while common breed names should be capitalized. Chemical and biochemical terms must conform to IUPAC naming standards (https://iupac.org/what-we-do/nomenclature/). Use SI symbols without periods or plural forms. Time should follow the 24-hour format, and dates should be written in the Day--Month--Year order (e.g., 7 Aug 2025).

   10. Equations and Symbols
       Equations should be created using the Microsoft Word equation editor and must remain editable (not inserted as images) throughout the review and production process.
   11. Supplementary Materials
       Supplementary materials may include additional tables, figures, datasets, videos, or other supporting files that enhance the understanding or reproducibility of the research. Such materials should be clearly referenced in the main text (e.g., Supplementary Table S1 or Supplementary Figure S2) and submitted as separate files during manuscript submission. Each supplementary item must have a concise title and legend explaining its content. Files should be in widely accessible formats (e.g., .docx, .xlsx, .csv, .mp4, .pdf) and follow the same numbering and labeling style as those used in the main manuscript. If supplementary data are hosted in an external repository, provide the repository name and DOI or URL in the Data Availability Statement.
   12. References (Vancouver Style)
       References must follow the Vancouver style, which uses numerical citations in the text and a numbered reference list in the order of appearance.
       • In the text, cite references using superscript Arabic numerals (e.g., "as reported previously¹" or "similar to earlier findings²").
       • The reference list should be arranged in the same numerical order as cited in the manuscript (not alphabetically).
       • All author names should be listed if six or fewer; for more than six authors, list the first six followed by et al.
       • Journal titles should be abbreviated according to the Index Medicus.
       • Include DOIs where available.
       • Authors must ensure accuracy, consistency, punctuation, and completeness in all reference entries. To maintain uniform formatting, NVJ strongly recommends the use of reference management software (such as Zotero, EndNote, Mendeley) or similar tools configured to the Vancouver citation style.
       • EXAMPLES
         1. Gautam G. Postpartum anestrus in dairy cattle and its management. AIP Conf Proc. 2023 Jun 5;2628(1):070005. doi:10.1063/5.0143994
         2. Pokhrel B, Tan Z, Jiang H. Identification of transcriptional regulators and signaling pathways mediating postnatal rumen growth and functional maturation in cattle. J Anim Sci. 2025;103:skae367. doi:10.1093/jas/skae367
         3. Pathak CR, Luitel H, Pakhrin WT, Syahrulawal L, Sadaula GP, Bhandari DR, et al. Nutritional potential of the giant African land snail (Achatina fulica) as a sustainable protein source for food and feed. J Agric Food Res. 2025;23:102179. doi:10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102179
         4. Cunningham JG, Klein BG. Textbook of Veterinary Physiology. 6th ed. St. Louis (MO): Elsevier; 2020. p. 451--492.
       • TEMPLATE
         1. For journal articles: Author(s). Title of the article. Abbreviated Journal Name. Year; Volume (Issue): Page range or Article ID. doi:DOI
         2. For textbooks: Author(s). Book Title. [Edition if not the first]. Place of publication: Publisher; Year. p. xxx--xxx.
6. SUBMISSION AND PEER REVIEW
   1. Submission Stages
      The Nepal Veterinary Journal follows a two-stage submission system:
      1. Initial Submission (before peer review)
      2. Revised Submission (after peer review)
      Authors must strictly follow the file-submission requirements applicable to each stage. Submissions that do not comply with these instructions may be returned to authors without review.
   2. Initial Submission (Before Peer Review)
      For the initial submission, authors must upload exactly three files through the journal's submission system:
      1. Cover Letter
         • Addressed to the Editor-in-Chief
         • Must briefly describe the significance of the study and confirm that the manuscript is original, has not been published previously, and is not under consideration elsewhere
      2. Title Page (Separate File)
         The Title Page must be submitted as a separate Microsoft Word (.docx) file and must include:
         • Full manuscript title (Title Case)
         • Full names of all authors (First name + Middle initial + Family name)
         • Institutional affiliations with numerical superscripts
         • Corresponding author designation with email address

         The Title Page file is used exclusively for editorial and production purposes and will not be shared with reviewers.

      3. Main Manuscript File
         The Main Manuscript must be submitted as one Microsoft Word (.docx) file and must include all manuscript components, arranged in the following order:
         • Manuscript Title (Both in title page and at the start of main manuscript, author information should be avoided in main manuscript file)
         • Abstract and Keywords
         • List of Abbreviations
         • Introduction
         • Materials and Methods
         • Results
         • Discussion
         • Conclusion
         • Limitations of Study (if any)
         • Acknowledgements
         • Funding Statement
         • Conflict of Interest
         • Author Contribution
         • References
         • Tables
         • Figures
         • Figure legends (must immediately follow the figures)
         • Supplementary materials (if any)
         
         Mandatory Formatting Requirements
         • Continuous line numbering throughout the entire manuscript
         • Page numbers must be included
         • Single-spaced, A4 page size
         • Times New Roman, 12-point font
         Manuscripts submitted without line numbering will be returned to authors prior to peer review.
   3. Revised Submission (After Peer Review)
      For revised manuscripts, authors are required to upload a limited number of clearly labeled Microsoft Word (.docx) files. Unnecessary fragmentation of files should be avoided to facilitate re-evaluation and production.
      1. Required Files
         Authors must submit the following documents:
         1. Revised Manuscript
            • Microsoft Word (.docx) file
            • Must include:
              • Continuous line numbering
              • Page numbers
              • Figure legends included within the manuscript (placed near figures or at the end)
            • Tables and figures may be embedded within the manuscript or placed at the end of the document
         2. Revised Title Page (if applicable)
            • Uploaded as a separate Word file
            • Must reflect any authorship or affiliation changes approved by the editorial office
         3. Response to Reviewers
            • Separate Microsoft Word (.docx) file
            • Must provide a detailed, point-by-point response to all reviewer and editor comments
            • Responses must clearly indicate where corresponding changes were made in the manuscript
         4. Tables and Figures

            If the quality, resolution, or formatting of tables or figures is insufficient for publication, the editorial office will contact the authors by email and request corrected files at a later stage.

         5. Supplementary Materials (If applicable)
            • Supplementary materials may be submitted as:
              • A separate Microsoft Word (.docx) file, and/or
              • A Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) file, where appropriate (e.g., large datasets, spreadsheets)
            • All supplementary materials must be cited in the manuscript text (e.g., Supplementary Table S1, Supplementary Figure S1)

            Failure to submit revised materials in accordance with these instructions may delay further review or acceptance.

   4. Editorial Screening
      All manuscripts undergo an initial desk review to ensure that they fall within the journal's scope and meet formatting and completeness requirements. A similarity check is also conducted, with an acceptable similarity index of 15% or less. Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria or fail the initial screening are returned to the authors for revision prior to peer review.
   5. Double‑Blind Peer Review
      The journal follows a double-blind peer review process, where both reviewers and authors remain anonymous. At least two subject-expert reviewers will evaluate each manuscript, and an additional statistical reviewer may be invited when necessary to ensure methodological rigor.
   6. Reviewer Invitations and Deadlines
      Invited reviewers are generally asked to complete their reviews within 14 to 21 days. Extensions may be granted upon request, but non-responding reviewers are promptly replaced to prevent delays in the editorial process.
   7. Decisions and Timelines
      Following peer review, possible editorial decisions include Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision or Reject. Manuscripts are rejected only when they contain serious methodological or ethical flaws that cannot be addressed through revision. Authors are usually given 7 to 21 days to resubmit revised manuscripts, depending on the nature and extent of the required changes. Appeals regarding editorial decisions may be submitted to the managing editor with a clear and detailed written justification.
   8. Appeals
      If managing editor cannot resolve an appeal, it will be reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief. Unresolved matters may be escalated to the NVA Publications Committee for final consideration.