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
Reproductive performance of commercial Merino, Dohne Merino and SA Mutton Merino flocks in the Southern Cape
Data of 23 189 Merino ewes (8 farms), 7692 Dohne Merino ewes (3 farms) and 2399 SA Mutton Merino ewes (1 farm) were recorded for the 1988-1991 lambing seasons. The udders of ewes present at lamb marking were inspected to…
Effect of delayed sponge withdrawal on the superovulatory response to pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin and on embryo recovery i
Forty-five ewes (29 Romanov X Dorper, 9 Karakul, and 7 Dorper) were divided into four groups, synchronized using progestagen sponges and superovulated with 1000 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin. Sponges were withdrawn on days 13, 14, 15 and 16 (in…
Suitability of a lime source high in manganese as a feed ingredient for sheep (Short communication)
An investigation was conducted to ascertain whether a source of feed lime (Ouplaas lime) high in manganese (5000 mg Mn/kg) is a safe feed ingredient for sheep. Two levels of Ouplaas lime, l% and 4%, were included in a sheep…
Fermentative digestion in the ostrich (Struthio camelus var. domesticus), a large avian species that utilizes cellulose
The production of volatile fatty acids (VFA) was studied in vitro to assess the possible contribution of microbial fermentation to the energy economy of growing ostrich chicks. Structure, capacity and contents of the gastro-intestinal track were examined to identify major…
Utilization of metabolizable energy by ostrich (Struthio camelus) chicks at two different concentrations of dietary energy and c
The effect of changing dietary energy and crude fibre concentrations on the utilization of metabolizable energy (ME) was investigated in four growing ostrich chicks by addition of lucerne meal to a maize-lucerne based diet. The experiment was carried out in…
Growth, feed intake and body composition of ostriches (Struthio camelus) between 10 and 30 kg live mass
Data on cumulative feed intake, growth rate and chemical body constituents of 24 ostrich chicks, from a comparative slaughter experiment, were utilized to describe patterns of efficiency of feed utilization, deposition rates of protein, fat and body energy, as well…
Growth response, sexual development, carcass and meat quality of zinc tannate treated bulls
Effects of intratesticularly administered zinc tannate (ZT) on growth performance, sexual development, slaughter, carcass and meat quality characteristics of young bull calves (-225 kg, 7 months old) were investigated. Comparisons were made across a three (treatments: ZT animals, intact bulls…
Nutritional value, for pigs and rats, of sunflower oilcake meal processed to contain different concentrations of protein
Different amounts of hull were removed from sunflower oilcake to obtain oilcake with a protein content of 40% (SFOC 40), 42% (SFOC 42), 44% (SFOC 44) and 46% (SFOC 46). respectively. The increase in crude protein content from 40% to…
Genetic trends of selection for pelt traits in Karakul sheep. I. Direct responses
Genetic trends owing to selection for an increase in pattern and hair quality and a decrease in hair length and curl development in the Karakul were estimated with the Animal Model in four selection lines and in a control flock…
Genetic trends of selection for pelt traits in Karakul sheep. II. Correlated responses
Correlated responses of curl development, hair quality, hair thickness, hair stiffness, hair length, lustre and pattern to selection for an increase in pattern and hair quality and a decrease in hair length and curl development were determined with mixed model…
Suckling behaviour and fertility in beef cows on pasture. I. Suckling behaviour
The suckling behaviour of one- to three-month-old calves, suckled by 66 Hereford, Simmentaler and Hereford X Simmentaler cows, was studied. The most common frequency of suckling in 24 h was 4, and the mean duration of each suckling event was…
Suckling behaviour and fertility in beef cows on pasture. 2. Influence of twelve-hour calf separation on interval to first oestr
For two weeks prior to the start of the breeding season, the suckling behaviour of beef calves, separated from their dams for 12 h out of 24, was investigated. Fifty-six per cent of the 44 cows which were separated from…
Factors influencing the quality of Karakul pelts, with emphasis on discrete characteristics
The study was undertaken to assess the influence of various environmental effects, e.g. sex, age of dam, month of birth and mating types (black X black, black X grey, grey X black and grey X grey) on pelt traits of…
Effects of exogenous amines on reproduction in female Angora goats
An investigation was conducted into the effects of two phenolic amines, N -methyl-β-phenethylamine (NMP) and tyramine (T) on corpus luteum function and reproductive performance of Angora goats. Both compounds are widely distributed through the plant kingdom and, because of their…
Differences in mean fibre diameter and fibre diameter variance in fine wool, strong wool, and fine x strong wool Merino sheep sa
Values for mean fibre diameter (FD) and FD variance were determined on wool samples obtained from five different locations on the bodies of progeny in fine wool, strong wool and fine X strong wool Merino sheep. The respective genetic groups…
Influence of first calving age and nutrition on the performance of early mated Nguni heifers (Short communication)
The effect of early mating on the production and reproductive ability of Nguni heifers was investigated. One group (MN group) of heifers (n = 15) was stall-fed from weaning and mated at approximately 13 months of age. The second group…
