Impacts of Nigella sativa Inclusion during Gestation and Lactation on Ovarian Follicle Development, as Well as the Blood and Metabolic Profiles of Ardi Goats in Subtropics
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Title – The title should characterize what environment provided for the animal. Suggestion: chronic heat stress.
Abstract –
Announce the experimental design.
Characterize the experimental unit.
Mention the breed: Boer
Statistical test used to compare treatments.
Nigella sativa (N. sativa) supplementation –
Set a standard for concentration in the diet? % or g/kg?
The authors oscillate the use of units.
Standardize a unit system throughout text.
Introduction
Authors should consider in the introduction:
The effect of thermal (caloric) stress on the animal model - 1, on the physiological stage - 2, and on the main parameters used to assess metabolic responses.
Materials and Methods
Characterize the experimental unity.
Mention the breed: Boer
Table 1 - Standardize a unit system.
Line 88- 0.2% -???
Results
Table 2 – Table 3 – Table 4 – Table 5 – Remove the standard deviation of the individual means of the variables.
Present the probability value for the F-ANOVA test for each variable.
Present a measure of variation from the general mean: Standard error of the general mean or coefficient of variation.
Figure 1 - Improve the quality.
Discussion
Line- 170.
--The relationship between nutrition, metabolic conditions, and reproductive functions has been investigated in several studies [4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13, 34, 35, 36].--
This paragraph does not help the authors. It is understood that this research was another one with the same theme! The authors must highlight the differential of the research.
4.1. Body weight, ruminal and physiological parameters
The justification must be based essentially on the measured results. I believe that the improvement in the quality of the food is related to the efficiency of utilization, therefore, the justification for the increase in the consumption of dry matter, associated with the increase in digestibility, should be a point of reflection for the authors.
Conclusions
Boer goats!
Why did you mention the BOER breed only in the conclusion?
The conclusion is long-winded.
The authors must be objective, simple and direct.
Author Response
Dear reviewer
The responses on your valuable comments is included in the cover letter and in the manuscript
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
Introduction
The first paragraph is too generalistic, it can be adapted to suit better the needs of the present manuscript.
A new paragraph should be added between the 2nd and 3rd to bridge better the conjectures of the authors.
Finally, the objectives must be clearly presented.
Procedures
Please present details of the experimental animals: breeds, age, numbers, selection procedures, health status etc.
Please detail the U/S procedures for study of the ovarian dynamics (there are various techniques available and the authors must described in detail the one performed).
Results
Table 2: heart rate or pulse rate? Please clarify
Please provide sequential U/S figures to provide convincing evidence about the findings of the ovarian dynamics.
Discussion
The work on the ovarian dynamics is not strong as it is and the results are not convincing. Also, the authors do not have a plausible hypothesis to support their potential findings.
Author Response
Dear reviewer
The responses to your valuable comments are included in the cover letter and in the manuscript
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Two minor points for correction in the revised manuscript.
1. Please add a passage in the discussion with the clinical significance of the findings.
2. Please update the list of references with some recently published relevant papers.
