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
Digestibility studies with Prosopis juliflora (mesquite-thorn) pods
Digestibility and voluntary intake trials were undertaken with S.A. Mutton Merino wethers fed a basal diet of milled lucerne and oat hay (control diet) to which various proportions of milled Prosopis juliflora pods were added up to 100% replacement. Ad…
‘n Vergelykende studie van vismeel, sonneblomoliekoekmeel en formaldehiedbehandelde sonneblomoliekoekmeel as proteien supplement
A comparative study of fish meal, sunflower oilcake meal and formaldehyde treated sunflower oilcake meal as protein supplements for sheep Whilst the nitrogen in six low protein high energy supplements (14 % CP) to sour grass-veld hay originated from either…
The effects of alternate feeding and fasting on growth and feed utilization by broiler chickens fed diets differing in protein a
An experiment is described in which three diets differing in protein and energy content but having a constant energy:protein ratio, were each fed to three groups of broiler chickens to four weeks of age. The three groups on each diet…
Comparative beef production from bulls, steers and heifers under intensive feeding conditions
Certain facets of comparative beef production from bulls, steers and heifers were investigated. Growth rate, final carcass mass, efficiency of feed utilization and several carcass measurements served as parameters for the purpose of comparison. From birth to twelve months of…
Supplementation of energy and/or protein to steers grazing summer veld
Some aspects of the effect of supplementary energy and/or protein, strategically provided to steers on summer veld, were investigated. 40 Friesland steers in the age group 12 to 18 months were divided into four groups and received the following treatments…
Cane molasses as a replacement for maize meal in beef fattening rations
Although molasses is extensively used in the animal feed industry in South Africa, there are conflicting views on its value as an energy source, Because of its low cost in relation to that of maize and in view of the…
Die invloed van verskille in die peil en verhouding van proteïen en energie in die rantsoen van die reproduserende sog
The influence of different protein and energy levels and ratios in the diet of the reproducing sow: A total of 64 Landrace gilts, initially between seven and eight months old, were used to study the effect of two dietary energy…
Evalua tion of the protein quality of fish meals by means of the NPU method
Four fish meals were subjected to a Nett Protein Utilization (NPU) study of which two were then tested in broiler rations. The NPU values revealed significant differences between fish meals but the broiler growth rate failed to indicate differences in…
The release of luteinizing hormone (LH) in ewes deprived of prolactin during lactation
In a study aimed to establish whether prolactin secretion in lactating ewes influences the release of LH, and the response of the ovary to gonadotropin stimulation, 20 Merino ewes which lambed over an eight-day period were divided into two comparable…
Die effek van verkorte draagtyd na verskillende hormoonbehandelings op pelseienskappe van karakoellammers
The effect of shortening gestation with hormones on pelt characteristics of Karakul lamb: Two hundred and eighty two pregnant Karakul ewes were used in an experiment which was conducted with ewes mated out of the normal breeding season (October to…
The effect of oestrus synchronisation on conception rate of lactating beef cows
Ninety eight lactating Bonsmara cows were divided into an experimental group of 66 and a control group of 32 cows. The 66 cows were synchronized by means of the interrupted method of progesterone administration and thereafter inseminated during the first…
Die invloed van tyd van ontweiding op die pH en sekere ander eienskappe van varkspiere
The effect of time of evisceration on pH and certain other characteristics of pork muscle. During surveys at pig slaughter centres In South Africa. it was noted that at some centres the carcasses were eviscerated within 8 min. post mortem…
Urea space versus tritiated water space as an in vivo predictor of body water and body fat
The urea dilution technique for the determination of body water and body fat in vivo was compared with the tritiated water dilution technique with respect to accuracy. ease of determination, costs, and application possibilities. Nineteen sheep were used in the…
