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 (2025): 0.8 (Q4 of subject category)
Scimago (SJR) (2025): 0.231 (Q3)
Scopus CiteScore (2025): 1.4
Effect of shade on various parameters of Friesian cows in a Mediterranean climate in South Africa. 1. Feed and water intake, mil
The effect of a shade structure on the feed intake, water intake, milk production and milk composition of Dutch-type Friesian cows in a temperate climate was determined over three summer seasons. The shade structure reduced (P < 0.01) radiation as…
Effect of shade on various parameters of Friesian cows in a Mediterranean climate in South Africa. 2. Physiological responses
The effect of a shade structure on some physiological parameters of lactating Dutch-type Friesian cows was determined over three consecutive summer periods. Plasma cortisol concentration of no-shade cows was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of shade cows during…
Effect of shade on various parameters of Friesian cows in a Mediterranean climate in South Africa. 3. Behaviour
The effect of a shade structure on the behaviour of lactating Friesian cows in open camps (dry lots) was determined over two consecutive summer periods. The daily activities of cows were observed and recorded on 9 separate 24-h periods. Shade…
Genetic relationship between growth traits in Bonsmara heifer and bull calves on different nutritional regimes
A system of feeder–breeder dimorphism (large, fast growing offspring in feedlots obtained from small, low mainten¬ance cows on natural pastures) would be profitable in South Africa. The possibility of a genetic basis for feeder–breeder dimorphism was estimated by calculating genetic…
Heritability estimates for different Kleiber ratios obtained from growth performance data in a Hereford herd (Short Communicatio
Heritability estimates for Kleiber ratios associated with growth were obtained for a Hereford stud, subjected to selection for growth over an 11-year-period. Heritability estimates obtained indicate that growth efficiency in terms of the Kleiber ratio is moderately heritable.
Genetic correlations between performance of individually fed and feedlot fed bulls
The performance of Bonsmara bulls tested in Phase C of the South African Performance Testing Scheme (intensive test in which individual feed intakes are measured) was compared with the performance of the half-sib bulls tested in Phase D (comparable to…
An investigation into genetic evaluation using an animal model when paternity is uncertain
A study was conducted to examine the effect of using Henderson`s (1988) `average numerator relationship matrix` (ANRM) on the prediction error variance (PEV) of breeding values obtained using an animal model with maternal effects. Genetic trends with and without using…
Diet of free ranging Angora goats in a False Upper Karoo veld typ
The diet of free ranging Angora goats in a False Upper Karoo veld type in the south-western Orange Free State is described. Angora goats are inherent browsers feeding on a wide variety of plants. Based on utilization frequency and feeding…
The effect of long-term selection for the parameters of the allometric model on fitness in the rat
The long-term effect of selection for the parameters of the allometric model on fitness is investigated to evaluate the allometric model for long-term selection purposes. Fitness is defined as the number of mature animals / female mated / 100-day period,…
An investigation into the feasibility of culturing rat embryos in media derived from sheep serum
The use of three media to support growth and development in headfold Sprague-Dawley rat embryos cultured for 48 h, for possible use in a teratogen assay, was investigated using sheep serum (SM) and sheep serum mixed with rat serum (80%…
The effect of the malignant hyperthermia gene on carcass characteristics of commercial crossbred pigs in the Western Cape (Short
Malignant hyperthermia (MH) genotype, as expressed by the halothane genotype, was determined on a random sample of 100 pigs originating from the Western Cape. The pigs were slaughtered to investigate the effect of MH genotype on certain carcass characteristics and…
The effects of long-term variation in rainfall and dry matter production of veld on the financial position of a beef weaner ente
Four simulations (RANGEPACK Herd-Econ) of a beef weaner enterprise, each subjected for a period of 30 years to a different rhythm of the long-term variation in rainfall and simulated dry matter production (PUTU 11) of veld at Glen, were compared…
Evaluation of Dormer sires for litter size and lamb mortality using a threshold model
Heritability estimates and breeding value predictions of Dormer sires for litter size and lamb mortality were obtained using a threshold model. Heritability estimates on the underlying scale were 0.24 and 0.12 for litter size and mortality, respec¬tively. Breeding value predictions…
Direct and maternal variance component estimates for clean fleece weight, body weight and mean fibre diameter in the Grootfontei
Direct and maternal variance components and resulting heritabilities were estimated by DFREML-procedures for clean fleece weight (CFW), body weight (BW) and mean fibre diameter (MFD) in the Grootfontein Merino stud. Direct heritabilities were estimated as 0.381, 0.289 and 0.626 for…
Genetic and environmental effects on performance traits of Simmentaler cattle on the Transvaal Highveld
Simmentaler cattle of the Highveld Region Development Institute were used in this study to determine the genetic and envi¬ronmental effects on birth mass, weaning mass and the mass gain from birth to weaning. During winter the animals were kept in…
Variance component and heritability estimates for growth traits in the Nguni cattle stud at Bartlow Combine
Data collected from calves born at the Bartlow Combine Breeding Station were analysed to estimate direct and maternal additive genetic variances and resulting heritabilities for weight at birth, 205, 365 and 540-days of age. The estimates of direct heritability were…
The performance of lambs on kikuyu as influenced by stocking rate and grazing system
Stocking rates of 20, 35 and 55 seven-month-old wethers/ha were used to determine the stocking rate/sheep performance relationship on kikuyu under continuous and rotational grazing, considering the stress placed on the animals by decreasing the availability of herbage with higher…
