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
Die potensiaal van chemies behandelde fluitjiesriet (Phragmites australis)-hooi in onderhoudsdiëte vir skape. 2. ’n Vergelykin
The potential of chemically treated common reed (Phragmites australis) hay in maintenance diets for sheep. 2. A comparison between NaOH treatment and ammoniation with or without molasses with respect to digestibility, intake and nitrogen retention. A digestibility experiment was conducted…
Die gebruik van mieliehooi as ruvoerbron in lamafrondingsrantsoene
The use of mealie hay as roughage source in lamb finishing diets. The influence of supplementation of mature maize plants (6% crude protein; 11,4 MJ DE/kg) with both energy and nitrogen on production aspects of slaughter lambs was investigated. A…
Die benutting van ureumaangevulde en verskillende tipes geammoniseerde garsstrooi by skape
The utilization of urea-supplemented and ammoniated barley straw in sheep. Barley straw treated with urea (75 kg/ton straw) and with anhydrous ammonia (30 kg/ton straw) by the stack and oven methods were compared with urea-supplemented barley straw in an intake…
Die invloed van energie- en stikstofaanvulling by ryp mielieplante op wolgroei van Döhnemerinolammers (Kort mededeling)
The influence of energy and nitrogen supplementation of mature maize plants on wool growth of Dohne merino lambs. The influence of supplementation of mature maize plants (6% crude protein; 11,4 MJ DE/kg) with both energy and nitrogen on wool production…
Invloed van mikrogolfbehandeling en stillugoondprosessering op die voedingswaarde van volvetsojabone soos bepaal deur ’n urease-
Influence of microwave and heat treatment in a household oven on the nutritive value of full-fat soy beans as determined by an urease index, the FDNB test for available lysine and a broiler growth test. The microwave treatment of soy-bean…
Fraksionering van sonneblomoliekoekmeel en die gebruik van die lae veselfraksie saam met volvetsojaboonmeel as plaasvervanger vi
Fractionation of sunflower oilcake meal and use of the low-fibre fraction together with full-fat soy-bean meal as a replacement for fish-meal in broiler diets. Nutrient concentrations of various fractions of sunflower oilcake meal were studied by sieving the meal through…
Invloed van dieetenergiekonsentrasie op die prestasie van braaikuikens
Effect of dietary energy concentration on the performance of broilers. The effect of varying ME content between 11,5 and 14,2 MJ/kg feed was studied with broilers in an 8-week trial. Ten treatments were used with dietary ME levels of 11,5;…
Diagnosis of pregnancy in dairy cows based on the pregosterone content of milk. Part 1. Discriminating between pregnant and non
A linear discriminant function (LDF) was used to estimate the level of milk progesterone which allowed the best overall classification of dairy cows into pregnant and non-pregnant groups (confirmed by rectal palpation). Progesterone levels were measured in milk samples drawn…
Diagnosis of pregnancy in dairy cows based on the progesterone content of milk. Part 2. Effect of day of sampling and number of
Two of the many factors which may affect the accuracy of pregnancy diagnosis using milk progesterone levels are day of sampling and number of samples taken per cow. These two aspects were analysed using information obtained from progesterone profiles encompassing…
Mathematical programming model for the optimization of nutritional strategy for a dairy cow
The use of a mathematical programming model for determining optimal nutritional strategy for a dairy cow is described. Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) may be used to fit curvilinear functions, such as the changes in the nutrient requirements of the cow,…
Influence of age and formalin treatment on the chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility of manure collected fr
The chemical composition and in vitro dry-matter digestibility (IVDMD) of manure collected from steers fed on a high-concentrate diet were investigated. The influence of the time interval between excretion and freeze drying of manure on its chemical composition and IVDMD…
Synchronization of oestrus in sheep of low-normal mass under range conditions: The use of different progestagens and PMSG
The use of intravaginal progestagen sponges (MAP or FGA), 300 or 500 IV PMSG, and implementation of one or two inseminations following synchronization, were evaluated in 600 Merino ewes with a mean body mass of 30,6 kg, outside the normal…
Invloed van geboortemassa op die voorkoms van distokie in die Noord-Transvaalse Bosveld (Kort mededeling)
Influence of birth mass on incidence of dystocia in the Northern Transvaal Bushveld. Seven cow herds (Afrikaner, Hereford, Bonsmara, Simmentaler, Hereford x Afrikaner, Simmentaler x Afrikaner, Simmentaler x Hereford x Afrikaner), consisting of 40 animals each, were investigated from 1979…
Preliminary note on mature pelvic dimensions and rearing efficiency in Merino ewes (Short communication)
Radiographic pelvimetry was used to obtain estimated pelvic dimensions for Merino ewes, born in 1981 and available for five lambing opportunities in the Tygerhoek flock. Estimated pelvic dimensions accurately predicted dissected measurements obtained from 37 ewes that were slaughtered, as…
Genetic parameters for reproduction rate in the Tygerhoek Merino flock. 1. Heritability
Data of the Tygerhoek Merino flock were used to obtain halfsib heritability estimates for the components of reproduction rate within age groups as well as averaged over a number of lambing opportunities. Two separate sets of data were considered. The…
Genetic parameters for reproduction rate in the Tygerhoek Merino flock. 2. Genetic correlations with wool and live mass traits
Data of the Tygerhoek Merino flock were used to obtain estimates of genetic correlations of 18 months wool and pre-mating live mass traits with average reproduction over two to five lambing opportunities, as well as between pre-mating live mass and…
The repeatability of reproduction rate in the Tygerhoek Merino flock
The repeatability of reproduction rate at 2 years or up to 3 years of age was investigated by regression methods considering subsequent reproduction averaged over a number of lambing opportunities or within subsequent age groups. Results from the study suggested…
Testicular development in Dorper, Döhne Merino and crossbred rams
Testicular development from 3 to 14 months of age was examined in Dorper (DD), Dohne Merino (DM) and crossbred (Meatmaster; MM) rams. Testicular measurements included testis volume (TV), diameter (TD), length (TL) and scrotal circumference (SC). Both TD and SC…
Failure to demonstrate a relationship between beef bull libido and conception rate
The relationship between beef bull libido and conception rate following a 21-day breeding period was investigated over two seasons. Libido was defined as the number of services completed during a 10-minute exposure to a restrained oestrous female. In the first…
Die evaluasie van rioolslik as proteïenbron vir groeiende varke
The evaluation of sewage sludge as protein source for growing pigs. The utilization of sewage sludge (28% CP) as a protein source in pig growth diets was investigated. Fish meal was replaced by sewage sludge at three levels (0%, 25%…
