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.
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Clarivate Journal Impact Factor (2025): 0.8 (Q4 of subject category)
Scimago (SJR) (2025): 0.231 (Q3)
Scopus CiteScore (2025): 1.4
Application of Householder`s transformations and the QL algorithm to REML estimation of variance components
Restricted maximum likelihood (REML) is widely regarded as the preferred procedure for estimating variance components in animal breeding problems. The size of the coefficient matrix, however, often leads to computational difficulties and many simplified algorithms, including diagonalization, have been proposed…
DNA polymorphisms in the bovine thyroglobulin gene (Short communication)
DNA polymorphisms that can be detected by restriction endonucleases are valuable in population and linkage studies. In this manuscript we have reported on the occurrence of DNA polymorphisms in a defined region of the bovine thyroglobulin gene. We have shown…
The influence of dietary energy concentration and feed intake level on feedlot steers 1. Digestibility of diets and rumen parame
Three ruminally cannulated mature steers were fed, in a crossover design, diets with concentrate to roughage (C: R) ratios of 80: 20, 55: 45 and 30: 70, twice a day (09: 00 and 15: 30) in a predetermined feed intake…
The influence of dietary energy concentration and feed intake level on feedlot steers 2. Feed intake, live mass-gain, gut fill,
A total of 108 medium frame weaner steers, divided into 9 groups of 12 each with mean group masses of 200 kg, were used to determine the effect of three concentrate to roughage (C: R) ratios (80: 20, 55: 45,…
The influence of dietary energy concentration and feed intake level on
The effect of diets with three divergent concentrate to roughage (C : R) ratios (80: 20, 55: 45 and 30: 70), fed at three feed intake levels (ad libitum, 90% ad libitum and 80% ad libitum), on carcass composition…
Rate and extent of ruminal degradation of crude protein from selected feedstuffs used in cattle feedlots as measured by the in s
Ruminal degradation of crude protein from feedstuffs was determined in steers that were fed diets based on either maize (whole, meal or flakes) or on by-products of the milling industry. In addition to the in sacco degradation study, fractional outflow…
Effect of level and degradation of dietary protein on performance of feedlot steers
Optimal levels of crude (CP) and undegraded (UDP) dietary protein were studied in feeding systems based on whole maize fed free-choice and on complete mixed diets composed from by-products of the milling industry. On the whole maize free-choice system, animal…
Protein and starch digestion in steers fed feedlot diets differing in extent of protein degradation
Twelve steers fistulated in the rumen and duodenum were allocated to one of three diets and fed 80 g DM/kg W0.75/d. The diets consisted of about 80% maize meal, 11% cottonseed hulls and either 1.44% urea (Treatment A), 0.96% urea…
Differences in nitrogen and urea metabolism between goats bred for fibre production (Angora goat) or meat production (Boer goat)
This experiment was conducted to determine whether selection for fleece weight is accompanied by changes in the efficiency of nitrogen utilization, using Angora and Boer goats as models of animals bred for fleece or meat production respectively. A diet, containing…
Glucose metabolism and adrenal function in goats bred for fibre production (Angora goat) or meat production (Boer goat)
It has been proposed that the abortions, cold-stress fatalities, and slow growth rates typical of the South African type of Angora goat can be explained by congenital adrenal hypofunction incident to genetic selection for hair production. The aim of this…
A comparison of the performance of Holstein and Friesian bulls in the South African Progeny Testing Scheme
The performance of 92 Holstein-Friesian bulls, which were accepted for progeny testing under the South African National Dairy Animal Performance and Progeny Testing Scheme during 1982, 1983 and 1984, was compared. Bulls which were locally bred for more than one…
Studies on the nutritive value of cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata)
Samples of 150 different cowpea cultivars, used in the breeding trials of the Summer Grain Institute at Potchefstroom, were analysed and found to have an average crude protein content of 28.4 ± 1.8% (range 24.5 to 33.9%). From these samples,…
Sire breed and breed genotype of dam effects in crossbreeding beef cattle in the subtropics 1. Birth and weaning
The influence of sire breed and breed genotype of dam on birth and weaning mass in calves of Afrikaner, Hereford, Simmentaler and Bonsmara cattle, as well as F1 and two- and three-breed rotational crosses between Afrikaner, Hereford and Simmentaler were…
Sire breed and breed genotype of dam effects in crossbreeding beef cattle in the subtropics 2. Calving interval and cow producti
The influence of sire breed and breed genotype of dam on calving interval (CI) and cow productivity (CP) in Afrikaner, Hereford, Simmentaler and Bonsmara cattle, as well as in Fl, and two- and three breed rotational crosses between Afrikaner, Hereford…
An evaluation of fababean (Vicia faba) and lupin (Lupinus albus) stubble and seed for sheep (Short communication)
The experiment was carried out to compare fababean with lupin crop residues for summer grazing by young Merino wethers. The crude protein (CP) and dry matter (DM) degradability as well as chemical composition of fababean and lupin seed and stalks…
Between-flock genetic differences in 40 Merino studs
Breeding values of production traits, relative to a genetic control flock, were estimated for 40 registered Merino studs. Breeding values, expressed as a percentage deviation from the control flock, varied from -16.7 to 31.2 for body mass, -6.4 to 28.1…
A nutritional evaluation of Geotrichum candidum grown on an industrial effluent
The nutritional value of Geotrichum candidum, produced on an acid effluent from Sasol, was determined. Analysis of G. candidum revealed (on an air-dry basis) a crude protein content of 53.4% and a true protein content of 38.8% with a favourable…
Substitution of lucerne hay by untreated, urea-enriched and urea-ammoniated wheat straw in diets for sheep
The aim of the study was to examine the effects of the substitution of lucerne hay by untreated, urea-enriched and urea-ammoniated wheat straw on (i) dry matter intake (DMl), digestibility and nitrogen balance, (ii) in situ degradability, (iii) rate of…
Amino acid metabolism and whole-body protein turnover in lambs fed roughage-based diets: 1. Lysine and leucine metabolism
The experiments reported in this series were designed to investigate the metabolism of lysine, leucine and methionine in lambs fed roughage diets supplemented with various levels of protein. and to compare these amino acids as tracers of whole-body protein metabolism…
Amino acid metabolism and whole-body protein turnover in lambs fed roughage-based diets: 2. Methionine metabolism and a compari
The effect of protein supplementation of a wheat straw diet on the metabolism of lysine, leucine, methionine and urea, and on whole-body protein turnover rate was investigated in lambs. The metabolism of lysine and leucine is reported elsewhere (Cronje et…
