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
Effects of dietary roughage: concentrate ratio and rumen ammonia concentration on in situ feedstuff degradation in the rumen of
The aim of this experiment was to distinguish between the effects of dietary roughage: concentrate ratio and rumen ammonia concentration on rumen in situ degradation in sheep. Three diets with roughage: concentrate ratios of (Eragrostiscurvula hay:maize) 75:25, 50:50 or 25:75…
Observations on litter size, parturition and maternal behaviour in relation to lamb mortality in fecund Dormer and South African
Dormer (n = 166) and SA Mutton Merino (n = 147) ewes were observed continuously during lambing in the autumn lambing seasons of 1989-1991. Although SA Mutton Merino ewes had larger (P ≤0.01) litters at birth than Dormers (2.08 vs…
Fats for lactating dairy cows (Review)
Fat provides essential fatty acids and a concentrated source of energy for dairy cows. The energetic efficiency of milk production is therefore also improved. Of the numerous fat sources that are available, oilseeds, especially cottonseed, probably offer the best opportunity…
Lactation curves of Holstein-Friesian and Jersey cows in Zimbabwe
Mean daily milk yield for 478 Holstein-Friesian cows from two herds, recorded between 1984-1985, and for 218 Jersey cows from two herds, recorded between 1984-1985, were used to estimate lactation curve parameters for Wood's gamma function: Yn = A nbe-cn.Yn…
Effect of free gossypol in whole cottonseed on the semen quality of Holstein bulls
It is suspected that feeding large amounts of whole cottonseed and cottonseed meal to dairy cows can cause gossypol intoxication. It has also been shown that male antifertility is probably the first physiological effect of free gossypol. The objective of…
A laboratory study of the composition and fermentation of various crop silages
Grain sorghum, forage sorghum, sunflower and maize were ensiled on laboratory scale. Sunflowers, harvested at the milky seed stage of maturity, resulted in silage containing only 13,54% dry matter (DM). Maize, grain sorghum and forage sorghum silages, contained approximately 30%…
Mikrogolf-geprosseseerde volvetsojabone vir gebruik in braaikuikendiete
Microwave-processed full-fat soy beans for use in broiler diets. An experimental microwave oven, delivering microwaves of 1,3 kW (frequency of 2450 MHz), was used to process air-dry (9,13% moisture) and moistened (23,08% moisture) full-fat soy beans. The processed beans were…
Effect of energy supplementation on intake and digestion of early and mid-season ryegrass and Panicum / Smuts finger hay, and on
Supplementation of early and mid-season Italian ryegrass (Lolium mu/tiflorum cv. Midmar) with maize meal, maize meal with NaHC03 buffer, or maize meal plus combinations of slowly degradable protein was studied. Supplements were administered via a rumen fistula. The effect on…
Die invloed van voedingspeil op puberteitsbereiking by Nguni-, Bonsmara- en Drakensbergerverse
The effect of feeding level on puberty development in Nguni, Bonsmara and Drakensberger heifers: The growing interest in the Nguni and the need for reliable data on the breed led firstly to an investigation of puberty development in Nguni, Bonsmara…
The effect of supplementing untreated, urea-supplemented and urea-ammoniated wheat-straw with maize-meal and/or fish-meal in she
Supplementation of untreated, urea-supplemented or urea-ammoniated wheat-straw diets with sources of readily fermentable energy (maize-meal; 0 and 20% of the total diet) and rumen-undegradable protein (fish-meal; 0 and 5% of the total diet) was investigated in a 3x2x2 factorial experiment,…
Die doeltreffendheid van vroeë seleksie van Merinoramme op grond van ‘n seleksie-indeks (Kort mededeling)
Efficiency or early selection or Merino rams on a selection index. Production traits of 196 unselected young Merino rams were measured at two consecutive shearings with six months' wool growth, at the age of 12 and 18 months. The correlation…
Die doeltreffendheid van vroeë seleksie van Merinoramme op grond van ‘n seleksie-indeks (Kort mededeling)
Efficiency or early selection or Merino rams on a selection index. Production traits of 196 unselected young Merino rams were measured at two consecutive shearings with six months' wool growth, at the age of 12 and 18 months. The correlation…
Deficiencies in luteal function during re-initiation of cyclic breeding activity in beef cows and in ewes
Mechanisms that have been proposed to account for (i) premature regression or (ii) subnormal secretory activity of corpora lutea (CL) in cows or in ewes are reviewed. Processes which occur prior to, at the time of, or following, ovulation are…
The effect of different dietary fat sources, withdrawal times, and castration on the fatty acid composition of backfat in bacone
Seventy-eight pigs (40 boars and 38 castrates) were used in a growth trial to study the effect of high oil class FH sunflower seed on the long chain fatty acid composition of backfat in baconer pigs. Three diets were formulated…
The effect of compensatory growth on feed intake, growth rate, body composition and efficiency of feed utilization in Dorper she
Forty-eight Dorper lambs, comprising 24 ram and 24 ewe lambs, were divided into four groups of six ram and six ewe lambs each and were allocated to one of the following feeding levels: ad libitum, 80%, 65% or 50% of…
Nutritive evaluation of Medicago truncatula (cv. Jemalong) pasture for sheep. 1. Seasonal influences on the chemical composition
The experiment was conducted (a) to determine the relationship between in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM) and in vivo digestible organic matter (DOM); (b) to quantify the monthly variation in chemical composition and digestibility of medic pasture; and (c) to…
Augmentation of luteal function in the lactating ewe after induction of ovulation with a gonadropin releasing hormone
Numerous studies have shown that in the acyclic ewe, the fIrst corpus luteum (CL) after administering gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) will lead to inadequate progesterone (P4) concentrations or will be short-lived. An attempt was made to promote the function…
Protein quality of three different species of earthworms
No difference in protein quality was noted between three species of earthworms, as evaluated by net protein utilization and relative nutritive values in growing chickens. Similar growth responses per g nitrogen intake were obtained for the earthworm meals, a broiler…
The efficiency of protein and fat deposition during growth in Dorper sheep
Sixty Dorper lambs, comprising 30 ewe and 30 ram lambs, were divided into six groups of five ewe and five ram lambs each. Each group received, on an ad libitum basis, one of six diets consisting of a concentrate: roughage…
A comparison of optimum and maximum reproduction using the rat as a model (Short communication)
No experimental evidence exists on the biological advantages of frequent or maximum reproduction compared to lower or optimal levels of reproduction. Twenty unrelated rats, divided into two groups, were thus used in the biological comparison between optimum and maximum reproduction…
