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
The effect of progestogen and oestradiol priming on luteal function in seasonally anoestrus GnRH-treated ewes (Short communicati
Seasonally anoestrus Corriedale ewes receiving 1 ml GnRH (0,0042 mg buserelin-acetate) IM, were pretreated as follows: (i) 5 Days with intravaginal progesterone-impregnated sponges removed 24 h prior to GnRH (P-group); (ii) 6 h with subcutaneous oestradiol silicone rubber implants removed…
Improving efficiency in pig production
The relative importance of different components of efficiency depends on whether one's interest is biological or economic. A study of the elements of biological efficiency shows that the choice of slaughter mass has a profound effect, and that in relative…
Current trends in lamb production with particular reference to New Zealand
Information on the production, processing, and marketing of lamb in New Zealand is presented. Consideration is given to new practices such as genetics and animal breeding, nutrition, and flock management that have been introduced in sheep farming to improve production,…
Effective extensive beef production as a prelude to feedlotting
A number of management strategies that can be used to improve the production and reproduction rate and involving the pregnant/lactating cow, the heifer and the bull, are discussed. Some of the factors discussed for the pregnant/lactating cow are calving season,…
Reproduction rate as a factor in meat production
The need to optimize rather than maximize rates of reproduction has been demonstrated for various production situations. In a highly intensive system, incorporating the use of artificial insemination, increasing the calving rate from 75 to 85% did not yield more…
Nutrient selection by cattle, goats and sheep on natural Karoo pasture. 2. Nitrogen
The nitrogen (N) content of material selected by cattle, Boer goats, Dorper and Merino sheep on natural Karoo pasture was investigated. A pronounced seasonal variation in the N content of selected material was found. No correspondence was recorded between the…
Identification of sexually low-response rams using libido test and their performance when allowed to mate under field conditions
Thirty-one Ile de France stud rams raised in monosexual groups were evaluated for sexual behaviour using three 10-minute libido tests. Rams represented two age (± SD) groups namely, 455,2 ± 6,7 (n = 10) and 352,9 ± 11,0 (n =…
Relationship between climatic factors and the diet selected by ruminants on Karoo veld (Short communication)
Diet selection and intake by cattle, goats and sheep was related to climatic factors by principal-component analysis. Digestibility of selected material and digestible organic matter intake per metabolic size (DOMI/kg W0.75) were significantly correlated to a principal component combining rainfall,…
Effect of season on mineral concentrations in beef cattle in Malawi
The true diagnosis of mineral deficiencies depends on the mineral responses to the supplementation of the deficient minerals; however, based on animal tissue analysis Cu, Mn, Ca and P are minerals that are likely to be deficient in cattle production…
The formation of volatile N-nitrosamines in kikuyu grass silage
Kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) often contains high levels of nitrate and other NPN compounds. During silage fermentation it is likely that nitrosamines are formed which are well known carcinogens. An investigation on kikuyu silage confirmed the presence of at least…
Herbage availability as a stress factor on grazed Coastcross II Bermuda grass
Experiments were carried out to examine stocking rate and live weight gain (LWG) relationships for Coastcross II Bermuda grass grazed for four consecutive summer periods by young growing beef cattle. Stocking rate affected the daily LWG/animal through its influence on…
Supplementation of dairy weaners grazing tropical pastures
Experiments were carried out to determine the potential of tropical pastures for growth of dairy replacement heifers, and to assess the need for supplementation of growing animals grazing these pastures. Grain supplementation (1,4 kg maize/head/day) increased ADG to 0,62; 0,56…
Pasture systems for milk production in northern Australia
Substantial increases in milk production can be achieved using improved pastures. When grazed at lenient stocking rates ( <1,6 cows/ha) milk yields of Friesian cows was ca. 4000 L/lactation. Productivity per unit area is increased when fertilizer nitrogen is used to…
Improved production from grazing cattle when given protein
A four-year study was conducted in which a protein supplement was fed to Hereford heifers so that they could be first mated at 15 months of age and calve each year thereafter. Protein supplemented heifers had an ADG of 500…
Digestion of Medicago truncatula pasture by sheep
Reasons for low productivity of sheep grazing barrel medic (Medicago truncatula) were investigated based on studies of intake and digestion. Pasture analysis showed that barrel medic represented only 13 to 30% of the diet selected and this was similar to…
Evaluation of crop residues as feeds for goats. Part 1. Voluntary intakes, digestibility and nitrogen utilization of groundnut a
Groundnut and bean haulms were evaluated as feeds for indigenous Malawian goats. Generally, the results showed that the nutrients in the bean haulms were better digested and utilized by the goats than those in the groundnut haulms. However, provided that…
Effect of supplementation on the digestibility of roughage diets
Supplementation of low quality Mongolian hay and barley straw with urea, minerals and a small quantity (11 - 14% of total DM) of easily digestible carbohydrate had a positive influence on in vivo digestibility, increasing the net energy value of…
Ammoniated maize residue for the fattening of lambs
The use of ammoniated maize residue as a replacement for maize meal in the diet for fattening lambs, was investigated. Ammoniation of maize residue increased average daily DMI and ADG at the 0 and 20% concentrate levels. The feed conversions…
Cane molasses and NaOH-treated bagacillo diets for lambs
The effect of alkali-treated bagacillo in diets varying in proportion of bagacillo and molasses was studied in lambs. The bagacillo was treated with a concentrated solution of NaOH in a horizontal drum-type mixer to give a final concentration of 6%…
