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
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%…
Lupin seed meal (Lupins albus cv. Buttercup) as a source of protein for early weaned piglets
Two experiments were conducted to evaluate L. albus cv. Buttercup as an alternative to heated full-fat soya bean meal for early weaned piglets. In Experiment 1, the performance of piglets, fed diets with 0%, 4%,8% and 12% lupins and formulated…
The influence of dietary supplementation on testicular growth rate in adult Merino rams (Short communication)
Thirty adult Merino rams were fed a ration with a 16% protein and 75% TDN content. Live body mass increased by 51,4% and testes volume by 111,7% in 210 days. Testicular growth responded rapidly to supplementation and testes volume increased…
Die invloed van stikstofbemesting van mielies op die in vivo-verteerbaarheid van mieliestrooi (Kort mededeling)
Straw of maize plants which had been fertilized with 40, 120 or 200 kg N/ha was fed to 27 Döhne Merino wethers in a digestibility trial. Feed residues, faeces and urine were collected over a 7-day period. Intake…
Ensiling characteristics and feeding value of silage made from cattle waste and maize residues
In this investigation, silage made from cattle waste being ensiled with maize residues (ECW), was evaluated with respect to ensiling characteristics and feeding value. Cattle waste was obtained from cows that were finished on a high-concentrate (80%) diet. It was…
The relative nutritive value of irradiated spray-dried blood powder and heat-sterilized blood meal as measured in combination wi
A method of processing blood meal in which the nutritive value of the protein is preserved is described, since appreciable losses occur in the nutritive value of the protein when prepared by heat sterilization with drying at atmospheric pressure in…
’n Vergelyking tussen mielies en appelreste as energiebronne in ’n kragvoermengsel vir suiwelkalwers
The effect of replacing O. 33, 66 and 100% of the maize meal with apple residue in a concentrate diet (containing 89% concentrate and 11% roughage) for dairy calves was investigated. Four groups of 10 new-born Friesian bull calves were…
The relationship between testis size and stimulated plasma testosterone concentrations and its influence on mating performance i
Testis size, stimulated testosterone concentrations and mating performance (serving capacity, libido score and serve : mount ratio) of 14 Dorper rams were measured in the breeding season (March) in order to determine the influence of testis size and testosterone concentration…
Selection response with index selection in three commercial Merino flocks
Members of the Performance Testing Division of the Merino Stud Breeders Association of South Africa select their young sheep according to a selection index, calculated from objective measurements of the following four characteristics body mass, clean fleece mass, fibre diameter…
Aspects of cattle production in Transkei
The importance and problems of cattle production in Transkei are discussed in this paper. Findings show a situation of low levels of production and deteriorating natural resources owing to mismanagement and overstocking.
An evaluation of the lamb and mutton carcase grading system in the Republic of South Africa. 1. A survey of carcase characterist
A survey of 468 lamb and sheep carcases of various breeds and crosses was conducted to investigate certain carcase characteristics. Carcases in each grade were divided into four mass groups, i.e. 10,1-15 kg; 15,1-20 kg; 20,1-25 kg and >25 kg…
An evaluation of the lamb and mutton carcase grading system in the Republic of South Africa. 2. The use of fat measurements as
A total of 104 carcases were selected on the market in three age groups and four mass classes representative of the six fat classes of the classification system for carcase evaluation. Four subcutaneous fat thickness measurements were taken on the…
An evaluation of the lamb and mutton carcase grading system in the Republic of South Africa. 3. Fatness score, conformation scor
The influence of fatness, conformation and carcase mass as individual predictors of carcase composition, was determined in 104 carcases which were fully dissected and of which carcase composition was determined. Chemical analysis was done on each carcase and…
An evaluation of the lamb and mutton carcase grading system in the Republic of South Africa. 4. The influence of age, carcase m
A sample of 104 lamb and mutton carcases was selected on the market at an abattoir in three age groups and four mass classes representing five of the six fat classes of the classification system. The loin cut of the…
The influence of breed and dietary molybdenum on the concentration of copper in tissues of sheep
The accumulation and retention of copper (Cu) in the livers of Ile de France and South African Mutton Merino lambs were compared at four levels of dietary molybdenum (Mo) supplementation, viz. 0, 2, 4 and 8 mg Mo/ lamb/day in…
Factors influencing the price of greasy fleece wool in South Africa
A sample of the 1984/85 wool clip was analysed to determine the physical properties affecting price. Clean yield percentage and fibre diameter were found to be by far the most important. The importance of the other properties varied between ports…
A note on the effect of wheat versus maize on the backfat composition of bacon pigs (Short communication)
The effect of grain source (wheat or maize), sex (boars or gilts) and live mass (85 or 120 kg) on the fatty acid composition of backfat was studied on 40 ad lib. fed Landrace x Large White pigs. A highly…
