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 (2025): 0.8 (Q4 of subject category)
Scimago (SJR) (2025): 0.231 (Q3)
Scopus CiteScore (2025): 1.4
The influence of dietary sulphur on copper and molybdenum metabolism in sheep
Different levels of dietary S were supplied to sheep receiving high levels of Cu (55 mg/sheep/day) and Mo (34 mg/sheep/day) in their rations. At S intakes of 2,9,4,0 and 5,3 g/sheep/day the hepatic Cu retentions expressed as percentages of total…
The peripheral plasma progesterone concentration and luteal progesterone content in the post-partum ewe
Post-partum plasma progesterone concentrations and luteal progesterone content were measured in lactating and non-lactating ewes during a normal breeding season in autumn and an abnormal breeding season in spring. The results indicate that silent ovulations during the autumn breeding season…
The synchronisation of oestrus in sheep. 3. The use of intravaginal progestagen and/or prostaglandin
The reproductive efficiencies of ewes treated with the intravaginal progestagen sponge (MAP), an intravaginal progestagen sponge (MAP) followed by an injection of cloprostenol (125 μg), a double injection of 250 μg cloprostenol at a 9-day interval and a control group…
The synchronisation of oestrus in sheep. 4. Insemination at oestrus or on a time basis
In a 2 x 2 factorial experiment fertility has been compared after insemination on observed oestrus, and insemination on a time basis. It was done on 10-day intervals. A group of progestagen sponge (MAP) treated ewes was compared following insemination…
The synchronisation of oestrus in sheep. 5. The interval between prostaglandin injections in the double injection regime
The reproductive efficiencies of ewes treated with two injections of prostaglandin (cloprostenol) administered at intervals of either 9, 10 or 11 days, were compared. The conception rate of ewes in these treatment groups was 11,1%, 40,0% and 70,0%, respectively and…
Oestrus and ovarian activity in lactating beef cows treated with 2-Bromo-α-ergocryptine
Pharmacological suppression of prolactin release has been shown to have a stimulatory effect on ovarian activity during the post-partum period in some species other than the bovine. This trial was designed to test the effect of treatment with bromocryptine on…
The relationship between body mass and fertility of beef cows of different ages
Records on body mass and reproductive performance of 920 Sussex type cows, ranging in age from yearlings to adults (5 years and older) were examined for relationships between body mass (X) and conception (Y). The data was obtained over a…
The adaptability of Simmentaler cattle in South and South west Africa with special reference to their claws
A study of the abrasion losses of claws obtained from different breeds did not confirm the hypothesis that dark pigmented claws are more resistant than light pigmented claws. It could be shown that factors such as the moisture and the…
Reproductive efficiency of angoras in South Africa (Research note)
Keywords:Â Reproduction, Angoras
The effect of a GnRh injection at artificial insemination on conception in dairy cattle (Research note)
Keywords: GnRh, insemination, dairy cattle
The effects of age at first calving on the productive and reproductive performance
Over a 6 year period, the effects of mating heifers to calve for the first time at 2 or at 3 years of age were studied. Over 3 repetitions of the experiment the average per cent first conception, re-conception and…
The conductivity of cervical mucus as a predictor of ovulation in beef cows synchronised with cloprostenol
A commercial conductivity detector was used to monitor the changes in the conductivity of the cervical mucus in Mashona and Afrikaner beef cows synchronised with cloprostenol in an attempt to predict the optimum time for artificial insemination. The recorded conductivity…
Preweaning growth of British, Bos indicus, Charolais and dual purpose type cattle under intensive pasture conditions
Factors influencing preweaning growth were investigated in a crossbred beef herd reared under intensive pasture conditions. 8731 records were analysed within two farms using the method of least squares. The effect of sire breed, type of dam, age of dam,…
The effect of age of dam on weaning mass for five dam breed types in an intensively managed crossbred herd
The effect of age of dam on adjusted 210 day calf weaning mass was estimated by the Least Squares method for 5 dam types on 2 farms. In the 12 models used the age of dam significantly (P < 0,01)…
Sinkronisasie van estrus by die S.A. Vleismerino: die invloed op besetting en fekunditeit
Synchronisation of oestrus in the S.A. Mutton Merino: the influence on conception and fecundity: During the breeding season 183 South African Mutton Merino ewes were used to study the effect of MAP + PMSG on conception and fecundity. With an…
Die progesteroonkonsentrasie in die bloedplasma van SA Vleismerino-ooie
The blood plasma progesterone concentration during 3 different breeding seasons, was studied in 15 South African Mutton Merino ewes. The ewes were bled daily starting at the onset of oestrus until 6 days after the following oestrus period. Plasma progesterone…
Plasma progesterone levels in lactating ewes after hormone-induced ovulation during the non-breeding season
Oestrus, ovulation and peripheral plasma progesterone concentrations were recorded in 58 lactating South African Mutton Merino ewes treated variously with progestagen, pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG), prostaglandin and gonodotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) at 2 post partum intervals (22 or 35…
Die effek van speenouderdom op die produksievermoë van die sog
The effect of age at weaning on the productivity of the sow: The effect of age at weaning applied for the first 5 lactation periods of the sow, on productivity measured in terms of litter size and the annual number…
In vivo estimation of body composition in cattle with tritium and urea dilution. I. Accuracy of prediction equations for the who
Four Afrikaner , 3 Afrikaner x Friesian, 4 Bonsmara, 5 Charolais and 4 Hereford bulls within the mass range 101 – 772 kg were used to evaluate the tritium and urea dilution techniques for accurate prediction of body composition. Approximately…
