New Zeal Vet J
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Dr Jackson's concerns about citing non-peer-reviewed studies in the New Zealand Veterinary Journal (NZVJ) are shared by the editors and Editorial Board and have provoked considerable discussion about our policy and practice in this regard. Independent peer review remains a central part of the quality control process applied to the publication of scientific literature and is embraced by the NZVJ. All papers published in the NZVJ are scrutinised by the editors and Editorial Board, and those considered suitable are sent to two or three expert referees. ⋯ There are many benefits of publishing in quality peer-reviewed journals such as the NZVJ, not least of which is the almost inevitable improvement in the quality and rigour of manuscripts after peer-review and the greatly increased opportunity for recognition and citation of peer-reviewed studies by others. Peer-reviewed journals remain the most widely accepted and established medium for communication and preservation of high-quality science. Authors and industry sectors that choose not to publish in peer-reviewed journals arguably limit the recognition and true progress of their science.