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
Voluntary feed intake, body composition and efficiency of two Merino crossbreeds
The voluntary feed intake, body composition and efficiency (ME intake/energy retention) of 10 Dorper x Merino and 10 Afrino x Merino lambs were studied. The age of experimental animals ranged from weaning at approximately 120 days, to about 240 days…
Die invloed van dieetproteïen- en energiepeil op die groeiprestasie en veerproduksie van slagvolstruise onder voerkraaltoestande
The effect of diet protein and energy levels on the growth performance and feather production of slaughter ostriches under feedlot conditions. Lucerne , maize and ostrich carcass meal were used to formulate nine diets supplying three protein levels (14,…
Milk progesterone concentrations: an accurate early pregnancy diagnostic aid in dairy cattle
The optimal day of milk sampling for pregnancy diagnosis by milk progesterone quantitation was determined as well as the diagnostic efficiency of the test for days 14 - 24 post insemination in dairy cattle. The results show that on days…
Faktore wat lamvrektes by die Elsenburg Dormer- en SA Vleismerinokuddes beïnvloed
Factors that influence mortality amongst lambs in the Elsenburg Dormer and SA Mutton Merino flocks. Data related to 1 852 SA Mutton Merino and Dormer lambs born in the Elsenburg flocks, during the period 1978 - 1981 inclusive, were analysed…
Supplementary winter feeding and reproduction of beef heifers on Dohne sourveld (Short communication)
Shorthorn and Bonsmara type beef heifers from two breeding seasons were allocated to a high (H), medium (M) and low (L) level of nutrition after weaning at 7 months of age. The feeding levels were applied for 145 days (1972…
Influence of pen area and trough space on feedlot performance of beef cattle (Short communication)
Two experiments were conducted to measure the influence of trough space (170 mm, 350 mm and 700 mm/animal) and pen area (5,5 m2, 11 m2 and 22 m2/animal) on feedlot performance. There was no advantage in allowing more than 170…
Sodium and steam-treated sugarcane bagasse in low and high fibre fattening diets for lambs (Short communication)
The purpose of this trial was to evaluate two methods of roughage treatment and two levels of treated roughage in complete rations for weaner lambs. A 3 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was used. Untreated, sodium hydroxide-treated, and steam-treated…
Die invloed van speenouderdom op die doeltreffenheid van ’n versnelde paringsfrekwensie met skape (Kort mededeling)
The influence of weaning age on the efficiency of an accelerated mating frequency with sheep. One hundred late pregnant South African Mutton Merino ewes were divided into two comparable groups (an early and a late-weaning group) of 50 animals each…
Fenotipiese- en genetiese parameters by ’n kommersiële kudde Merinoskape (Kort mededeling)
Phenotypic and genetic parameters in a commercial Merino flock. A study was made of a commercial Merino flock on the farm Rietfontein near Soutpan in the central Orange Free State . The progeny of 43 rams and 542 ewes were…
A report on the prevalence of clinical mastitis and the somatic cell distribution associated with machine milking in a one-sided
A study was made of the incidence of clinical and subclinical mastitis in the Cedara dairy herd consisting of 110 Friesland cows. It involved an analysis of 103 cases of clinical mastitis which occurred over 4 years and the random…
The incidence of mycotoxins in litter, feed and livers of chickens in Natal
Mycotoxins, and more specifically aflatoxins, have been found in samples of feed, litter, and liver tissue obtained from broiler chicken houses that had a high incidence of ascites and were also associated with low growth rates. It is suggested that…
Nutrient digestibility and performance of pigs fed sorghum varying in polyphenol concentration and maize as grain sources
Two experiments were conducted, (1) to determine the effect of the polyphenol content of sorghum on nitrogen and energy digestibility and (2)to compare a high polyphenol content class KF sorghum cultivar (BPS)and a low polyphenol content class KM cultivar (NS)…
Optimal levels of fish meal and lysine in maize based diets for growing pigs
Diets containing three levels of fish meal (4, 6 and 8 %), each supplemented with synthetic lysine at four lysine levels (0,7; 0,8; 0,9 and 1,0 %) were formulated to contain 12,65MJ of ME per kilogram air-dry feed and individually…
Conception rate of beef cows and growth of suckling calves as influenced by date of calving and supplementary feeding
The influence of energy supplementation (2,8 kg maize meal) of beef cows during early lactation and of creep feeding their suckling calves was investigated in two areas (Thornveld and Transitional Highland Sourveld). The cows were bred in spring to calve…
Reconception and body-mass changes of energy supplemented first-calver beef cows and growth of their creepfed calves
The effect of dietary supplementation using 2,3 kg maize meal per day on change in body mass during early lactation and on the calving rate of first-calf Afrikander, Sussex and Hereford type cows which grazed the Tall Grassveld of Northern…
The effect of age, frontal skinfold development and season on libido and mating dexterity in Merino rams
The mating ability of 541 Merino rams from 19 different producers in the area surrounding Bloemfontein was investigated. About 23 % of the rams were not able to mate successfully with a ewe in oestrus. This figure is a combination…
Die herhaalbaarheid van reproduksie-eienskappe in die Tygerhoek- Merinokudde – voorlopige waarnemings
The repeatability of reproduction characteristics in the Tygerhoek Merino flock - preliminary observations. The repeatability of lambs born and weaned per mating was estimated using data from 145 ewes of a control group and 260 ewes of four selection groups…
Maintaining genetic stability in a control flock of South African Merino sheep
A genetic control flock of Merino sheep consisting of 160 ewes and 16 rams, was established in 1969 at the Tygerhoek Experimental Farm near Riviersonderend in the South Western Districts of South Africa. In 1976 it was extended to 200…
Die herhaalbaarheid van reproduksietempo by kommersiële Merino-ooie
The repeatability of the reproduction rate of commercial Merino ewes. The repeatability of the reproduction rate of 143 and 423 Merino ewes in two commercial flocks was investigated. Ewes from flocks were grouped as those that failed to lamb and…
Die relatiewe ekonomiese belang van kwaliteitseienskappe by volstruisvere
The relative economic importance of quality traits in ostrich feathers. The prices obtained for 222 repeatedly evaluated single ostrich feathers and 498 feather-lots sold at 11 auction sales during 1978 and 1979, were used to determine the relative economic importance…
