The South African Journal of Animal Science is an open access, peer-reviewed journal. The journal publishes reports of research dealing with the production of farmed animal species (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, poultry and ostriches), as well as pertinent aspects of research on companion animals and aquatic and wildlife species. All submitted articles are subjected to a single-blind peer review process that is managed by a section editor under the supervision of the editor-in-chief. Copyright of a published article resides with the authors. Such articles will be published as open access content and be covered by the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 South African Licence. Users may copy, distribute, transmit and adapt the work, but must recognise the authors and the South African Journal of Animal Science.
Originally supported by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), the South African Journal of Animal Science moved online in the early 2000s using a custom-built manuscript submission and editorial management system. In August 2025, the journal transitioned to the Public Knowledge Project’s Open Journal Systems (PKP OJS), hosted by Khulisa Journals at the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf).
In line with international best practices, the journal integrates key components of digital research infrastructure, including DOIs (digital object identifiers), ORCID iDs (researcher identifiers), ROR IDs (research organisation identifiers), and CCLs (Creative Commons Licences), ensuring transparency, traceability, and global interoperability.
As of August 2025, the South African Journal of Animal Science makes use of the Crossref 10.17159 DOI prefix. View the journal metadata health and the Crossref DOI Conflict Report here.
If you experience any problems with the journal’s online platform, please contact the editor-in-chief at [email protected].
Clarivate Journal Impact Factor (2024): 0.6 (Q4 of subject category)
Clarivate Journal Citation Indicator (2024): 0.26
Scopus CiteScore (2024): 1.4
The effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone after a short-term synchronisation protocol on fertility in Assaf sheep during the breeding season
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) administration 48 hours after progesterone-impregnated sponge removal on fertility and prolificacy in lactating Assaf ewes. In this study, 71 ewes were synchronised using intravaginal sponges containing 60 mg medroxyprogesterone…
Nutrient profiling of locally available pig feed resources on small-scale farms in the Cape Metropole, South Africa
This study assessed the seasonal availability and nutrient profiles of pig feedstuffs present on small-scale farms in the Cape Metropole, South Africa. Eighty-two feedstuffs (54 in winter and 28 in summer) were collected from 50 small-scale urban pig farms in…
Effects of encapsulated sodium butyrate and arginine on the growth performance and gut health of broiler chickens, with or without enteric challenge
The experiment evaluated the effects of encapsulated sodium butyrate and arginine on the gut health of broiler chickens from 1 to 22 days of age, with or without exposure to an enteric challenge. The experiment was carried out in the…
Correlation analysis reveals that umbilical cord diameter and farrowing duration affect the reproductive performance of sows
This study evaluated the relationships between sow parity, prepartum faecal score, farrowing and umbilical cord traits, and reproductive performance. Data were obtained from sows of different parities on commercial farms with records of litter characteristics, farrowing intervals and duration, prepartum…
Copper nutritional status of free-ranging wild ruminants in southern Africa
To assess the copper nutritional status of southern African free-ranging wild ruminants, liver copper concentrations from more than 1000 animals representing 14 species were evaluated. Hepatic copper concentrations closely reflect copper intake levels in ruminants, and are widely accepted as…
Effect of the beta-adrenergic agonists, ractopamine hydrochloride and salbutamol, on the performance of finisher pigs
The efficacy and safety of beta-adrenergic agonist use in modern swine production are controversial. This study aimed to determine the effect of dietary ractopamine hydrochloride and salbutamol on the performance of 440 male and female finisher pigs (Topigs Norsvin TN70),…
Effects of feeding B. subtilis and B. licheniformis on the growth and carcass characteristics of feedlot lambs
This study investigated the effects of dietary Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis supplements on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, dressing percentage, morbidity, and mortality of weaner lambs under commercial South African feedlot conditions. The blinded field trial included 649 Merino…
Impact of farm proximity to coal-powered electricity power plants on forage and cattle mineral status in the Transvaal Highveld region of Mpumalanga, South Africa
Over 75% of South Africa’s electricity is generated by coal-powered plants that are primarily located near large coal deposits in the north and east of the country. The Transvaal Highveld region is characterised by commercial agricultural enterprises dispersed among coal-powered…
Growth performance, survival rates, and reproductive traits of Awassi sheep raised under normal farm conditions in Türkiye
This study determined the selected reproductive traits and growth and survival rates from birth to weaning of Awassi sheep raised in the Adıyaman province of Türkiye between 2016 and 2018 within the scope of the National Sheep and Goat Breeding…
The impact of frequent load-shedding on milk quality in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: A review
Frequent power outages in South Africa, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), disrupt critical dairy operations such as milking, cooling, feeding, and pasteurisation, thereby compromising the microbial, physical, and chemical quality of raw milk. This review evaluates the impact of load-shedding on…
Comparative analysis of the rumen microbiota of Brown Hanwoo, Jeju Black, and Brown Hanwoo × Jeju Black cross-bred steers
This study examined the rumen microbiota of Brown Hanwoo, Jeju Black, and Brown Hanwoo × Jeju Black cross-bred steers reared under the same dietary and environmental conditions. Nine steers were included in the study, with three animals per genetic type,…
Antibiotic-free poultry production for food security, food safety, and environmental stewardship
The use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in poultry production has raised concerns for human, animal, and environmental health owing to the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance. These concerns have triggered global efforts to decrease AGP use and have…
Impact of increased vitamin E and nutrient intake during early gestation on reproductive performance in sows
This study investigated the impact of increased vitamin E and nutrient intake during early gestation on reproductive performance in sows. Thirty first-parity sows (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc) with an average initial body weight of 163 kg were used. Sows…
Risk factors for non-adapting weaner lambs entering South African feedlots
A growing concern in South African feedlot systems is the increased prevalence of non-adapting weaner lambs. This study aimed to identify on-farm risk factors associated with poor adaptation using retrospective production data and a structured questionnaire administered to 80 lamb-rearing…
Estimation of genetic parameters for growth and wool traits in South African Merino sheep
The estimation of genetic parameters allows for the accurate prediction of estimated breeding values (EBVs), which play a crucial role in developing selection indices used to generate genetic progress for economically important traits. This study aimed to estimate genetic parameters…
Precision livestock farming technologies to support sustainable beef cattle production: A South African perspective
The global livestock sector is undergoing substantial transformation, driven by the need to improve production efficiency, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare in response to growing demand for animal-derived protein. Precision livestock farming (PLF) has emerged as a paradigm shift from…
Artificial neural networks for predicting first-lactation 305-day milk yield in crossbred cattle
This study was conducted using the first-lactation records of 1092 Vrindavani crossbred cattle to compare the relative efficiency of an artificial neural network (ANN) versus multiple linear regression for predicting the first-lactation 305-day milk yield (FL305DMY). The two input sets…
Heat stress in dairy cows: A review of abiotic and biotic factors, with reference to the subtropics
Heat stress has been identified as one of the major challenges for livestock production. Global temperatures are steadily increasing, with South African temperatures increasing at nearly twice the global rate. Of the livestock used for food production, dairy cows are…
Could vitamin supplementation unlock the hidden potential of the indigenous Gerze chicken?
In this study, the broiler performance of Turkish Gerze chickens was investigated. One hundred and thirty day-old chicks were reared under intensive conditions until 20 weeks of age to examine whether administering a vitamin supplement via their drinking water would…
Gut dysbiosis: Nutritional causes and risk prevention in poultry, with reference to other animals
The poultry gastrointestinal microbiome consists of more than 900 bacterial species and their metabolites; it serves as an indicator of bird health and is influenced by nutrition, medication, and other factors. Dysbiosis is a form of reduced microbial diversity, characterised…
