Editorial

Extract

We have just had our impact factor in for 2018 and we are slightly down by 5% at 1.364 (2017 was 1.439) but still very strong, considering we are only a small journal and take review, not experimental, papers. This issue is slightly shorter, due to the timelines involved in handing over to a new publisher at the end of the year, so apologies for that, but we still have a good spread of papers relating to immunity, water quality, minerals, slow growing breeds, genetic conservation, welfare and techniques in poultry production. Thanks to the efforts of all those involved with the journal, especially the Editorial Committee, for keeping things moving along in accordance with the tight deadlines in this year of big changes. Thanks also to the publishers, old and new, for providing all the information needed for the handover to date.

One issue we do have, and I would ask for authors forbearance on this, is that we are seeing a major slowdown in getting reviewers to commit to papers and getting them back in on time. We do actively chase up reviewers every week, but sometimes we are having to invite eight or more to get the required reviews in. Please can authors help out here by suggesting good reviewers on submission, and, perhaps, already have these secured as agreeable and available to review. This isn’t something specific to our journal – it is a growing trend, with many reviewers being increasingly busy in their day to day work. I would like to thank all our reviewers who give up their time, unpaid, to keep the journal on track.

As I am writing this, we are getting ready for our annual board meeting in Montreal, Canada, which is at the end of the PSA conference. I am hoping to catch up with many readers, authors and reviewers there. 2019 sees many good conferences, and I do hope you will all try to attend some of these. In addition, the next WPC is going to be upon us soon, in Paris in August 2020. It looks to be a great event, and the French branch have been working very hard to organise this – so get your papers in and come along. Please note that I, and other members of the board, will be on the lookout for papers suitable for the journal at conferences and seminars, and you may find yourself invited to submit. Otherwise, I trust all our readers have a good summer and hope to see you at an event.

Dr Lucy Waldron

Editor