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 gedeeltelike vervanging van volvetsojaboonmeel in vroegspeendiëte vir varke met alge of sonneblomoliekoekmeel (Kort mededeli
The partial replacement of full-fat soyabean meal in diets for early-weaned pigs with algae or sunflower oil cake meal. Three starter diets for early-weaned pigs, (weaned at an age of 21 days) were fed ad libitum for 26 days to…
Paraformaldehyde-treated bird-resistant sorghum grain as energy source in fattening diets for beef steers (Short communication)
Three groups of nine steers each were fed fattening diets, containing either non bird-resistant (NBR), paraformaldehyde-treated bird-resistant (PBR) or bird-resistant (BR) sorghum grain as the energy source, for 105 days. The BR group performed consistently worse than both the NBR…
A laboratory assessment of various treatment conditions affecting the ammoniation of wheat straw by urea. 1. The effect of temp
The effect of temperature, moisture level and treatment period on the ammoniation of wheat straw by 75 9 urea per kg wheat straw was investigated in a 4 x 2 x 6 factorial experiment. Independent variables included temperatures of 4;…
Urea ammoniation compared to urea supplementation as a method of improving the nutritive value of wheat straw for sheep
The ammoniation of wheat straw by urea in a stack method was investigated and compared to urea supplemented and untreated straw in an intake and in vivo digestibility trial. Ammoniation and supplementation significantly (P ≤ 0,01) improved the mean daily…
Hydrolysis conditions for the analysis for sulphur amino acids in feedstuffs
A study of methods of analysis for sulphur amino acids in feeds was undertaken with a view to finding methods suitable for the routine analysis of feedstuffs. In the case of cyst(e)ine, it was found that the results obtained from…
The tryptophan requirements of pullets in the early production stage
A trial was conducted with 1 152 Amberlink laying pullets from the ages of 30 to 35 weeks to determine the tryptophan requirements. The eight treatments consisted of a series of diets made by dilution of a summit diet with…
Qualitative versus quantitative feed restriction in Pekin breeder ducks during the rearing period
Four male and 16 female eight-week old Pekin breeder ducks per pen were randomly allocated to nine deep-litter pens to compare the effects of qualitative (0,35% lysine) and quantitative (60% of a group fed ad lib) feed restriction during the…
Assessment of different selection criteria for reproduction rate in Dormer and S.A. Mutton Merino sheep. 1. Birth type and earl
Reproduction data of 839 Dormer and 741 SA Mutton Merino ewes were analysed in order to evaluate certain conventional selection criteria for reproduction rate in sheep. Results indicated that, although a positive response in reproduction rate can be expected for…
Assessment different selection criteria for reproduction rate in Dormer and S.A. Mutton Merino sheep. 2. Luteinizing hormone c
Data of all the lambs born to the Elsenburg Dormer (n = 303) and SA Mutton Merino (n = 325) flocks during the 1977 and 1978 lambing seasons as well as their female relatives were used to study various aspects…
Assessment of different selection criteria for reproduction rate in Dormer and S.A. Mutton Merino sheep. 3. Prepubertal testis
Data of all the ram lambs born to the Elsenburg Dormer (n = 144)and SA Mutton Merino (n = 166) flocks during the 1977 and 1978 lambing seasons as well as that of their female relatives were used to study…
The effect of restricted suckling on LH and ovarian steroids after induced ovulation in Bos Taurus and Bos indicus cows
A total of 37 first-calf cows and their calves, comprising 19 Drakensbergers and 18 Hereford x Simmentalers, were subjected to either normal or once-daily suckling for 15 days, commencing at either day 35 or 60 post-partum in a 2 x…
Die invloed van verskeie faktore op die voorkoms van hoë spier pHf-waardes as aanleiding tot donker, ferm en droë (DFD) varkvl
The influence of various factors on the occurrence of high ultimate pH values as an indication of dark, firm and dry (DFD) pork at a South African bacon factory. This survey was conducted to determine the occurrence of DFD meat…
Evaluering van verskillende raskruisings in die ontwikkeling van ’n witwolvleisras: Die Afrino
Evaluation of different breed crosses in the development of a white·woolled mutton sheep: The Afrino. Owing to injudicious crossbreeding of non-wool led sheep with the Merino, a need originated for a breed which is free from kemp and coloured fibres…
The influence of age-group structure on genetic gain and productivity in registered herds of three beef breeds
Demographic data were collected on one privately owned stud herd each of the Bonsmara, Brahman and Drakensberger beef breeds, farmed extensively in different natural environments in the Republic of South Africa, to study the influence of herd age-group structure on…
Continuous vs intermittent supplementation of urea to beef cows on range during winter (Short communication)
Two groups of cows had either free and continuous access to a urea supplement or access to the same supplement for only four days per week. Cows from both projects overwintered on rested summer range while all the cows received…
Benutting van monensin in proteïen-energielekke deur lammerooie op suur winterveld; (a) Voorspeen
Utilization of monensin in protein-energy licks by lactating ewes on sour winter veld; (a) Preweaning. The influence of monensin, at a level of 0,36 mg/kg body mass, to ewes in high and low energy licks (HEL and LEL) and in…
Benutting van monensin in proteïen-energielekke deur lammerooie op suur winterveld; (b) Naspeen
Utilization of monensin in protein-energy licks by lactating ewes on sour winter veld; (b) Postweaning. High (HEL) and low (LEL) energy protein licks, with and without monensin, were fed to Dohne Merino ewes before and after weaning on Dohne sourveld…
The effects of crude protein percentage and urea in different stages of lactation on milk production in high yielding dairy cows
Eighty-four high- and moderate-yielding Friesland/Holstein cows were divided into four groups and fed ad libitum complete diets with crude protein levels of: Treatment 1, 16% (4 - 33 weeks postpartum), positive control; Treatment 2, 16% (4 - 17 weeks), 12%…
Quantitative feed restriction of Pekin breeder ducks during the rearing period and its effect on subsequent productivity
Six male and 24 female Pekin ducks per pen were randomly allocated to 12 pens to test the effects of quantitative feed restriction during the rearing period on subsequent reproductive performance. The feed treatments during the rearing periods were ad…
The response of different portions of the maize plant to NaOH treatment (Short communication)
Different portions (stalks, cobs, plant leaves, and cob leaves) from mature dry maize plants remaining after grain harvest were collected on two occasions, 8 weeks apart. Composition (proportion of plant portions) differed considerably between first and second cutting dates. All…
