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
Assessment of genetic variation in Bapedi sheep using microsatellite markers
This study was conducted to assess genetic variation in Bapedi sheep using 14 microsatellite markers. Blood samples were collected from 174 unrelated Bapedi sheep on six farms in various districts of Limpopo and from the Agricultural Research Council Animal Production…
Genetic evaluation and selection correlated response of growth traits in Japanese quail
Objectives of the current study were to i) investigate effects of selection for bodyweight at four weeks old on bodyweight (BW) and bodyweight gain (BWG) across four generations; ii) estimate correlated response to selection for BW and BWG at different…
In situ dry matter, protein and neutral detergent fibre degradation kinetics of Cholistan Desert grasses
Global climate change is evident and poses serious threats to the sustainability of traditional rangeland livestock production systems. This study tested the feeding potential of perennial grasses of Cholistan Desert for various species of ruminants at different physiological stages. Eight…
Association of polymorphisms of vasoactive intestinal peptide and its receptor with reproductive traits of turkey hens
The aim of this study was to identify variations of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and VIP receptor-1 (VIPR-1) genes that might be associated with turkey reproductive traits. One hundred twenty turkey hens were recorded for age at first egg (AFE),…
Antibiotic-free diet supplemented with live yeasts decreases inflammatory markers in the ileum of weaned piglets
Emerging bacterial resistance to antibiotics increases the need for effective alternatives to control intestinal inflammation and thus gut disorders in piglets. This study evaluated the effects of including Saccharomyces cerevisiae (strain 1026) and Saccharomyces boulardii (CNCM I-1079) as antibiotic alternatives…
Genetic effects from an Afrikaner, Bonsmara, and Nguni three-breed diallel and top-crosses of Angus and Simmental sires
Individual and maternal breed additive effects and heterosis exist for most economically important traits in cattle. Crossbreeding may therefore be valuable for emerging and commercial beef farmers in improving the productivity of their herds. Calves were produced by mating Afrikaner,…
Evaluation of three fast- and slow-growing chicken strains reared in two production environments
The present study evaluated performance, physiological response and economics of commercial fast growing (CFG), commercial slow growing (CSG), and Rhode Island Red (RIR) chickens under intensive and free-range rearing environments. After 21 days of rearing under the same intensive environment…
Use of phosphatidylcholine in Tris-based extender with or without egg yolk to freeze Bapedi ram semen
Traditionally, egg yolk is a protective agent that is used to freeze semen in various species. However, the addition of egg yolk in extender risks the introduction of disease. Therefore, an alternative cryoprotective agent should be found to preserve ram…
Oxalate and silica contents of seven varieties of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum)
Oxalate and silica are considered antinutrients. Large quantities of oxalate and silica in plants can interfere with the uptake of essential minerals in ruminants. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the total silica and oxalate contents of…
Incorporating oldman saltbush hay and prickly pear in diets for red Sindhi calves
This study was designed to evaluate the nutrient intake, digestibility, degradability, and ruminal characteristics of Sindhi heifers fed diets that contained a combined total of 75% oldman saltbush hay (hereafter saltbush hay) and prickly pear cactus. Eight 12-month old intact…
Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation on the quality and in vitro gas production of einkorn wheat straw
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) inoculation on the quality of einkorn wheat straw (EWS) and in vitro gas production (GP). It was found that AM inoculation of EW seed before sowing…
Effects of supplementing geese with green sweet sorghum stalks on microbiota in segments of the gastrointestinal tract
To explore the effects of supplementing a basal diet with green sweet sorghum stalks on the gut microbiota in geese, one hundred and twenty 28-day-old geese were divided into two groups. Group 1 was fed a basal diet and group…
Effect of parity on reproductive performance sows of different breeds
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of parity on reproductive performance by sows of different breeds. The sows were raised on three farms, and had seven or more litters of not fewer than seven piglets. A…
Supplementation of Holstein dairy calves fed two levels of crude protein with methionine and lysine
This study aimed to investigate various levels of crude protein (CP) in starter diets and their supplementation with amino acids (AAs) on efficiency, health, and serum metabolites of dairy calves. Ninety-six newborn Holstein calves were allocated to eight treatments, namely…
Determination of the best non-linear function to describe the growth of Kajli sheep
The aim of the present study was to determine the best non-linear growth function to describe the growth of Kajli sheep. For this aim, the Brody, von Bertalanffy, Logistic, and Gompertz models were used to describe the sigmoidal relationship between…
Effect of partial replacement of soybean and corn with raw or processed chickpea
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of using raw and processed chickpeas in various ways and levels in rations of egg-laying quail on egg yolk fat content, egg yolk fatty acid profile and some blood parameters. Chickpeas were…
Forage allowances offered to pregnant ewes until middle and late gestation: Organ priorities on foetus development
Effect of forage allowance before conception and until mid or late gestation was evaluated for effects on foetal and neonatal weights, carcass, nervous systems, metabolic and reproductive organ weights, body dimensions, and variation in intensity of the effects among organs…
Defatted yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor l.) meal as possible alternative to fish meal in quail diets
The effects of replacing fish meal (FM) in the diet with defatted mealworm larvae meal (DMLM) on growth, carcass, and biochemical constituents of serum of Japanese quail chicks were investigated. A total of 600 unsexed one-day-old chicks were allotted to…
Predicting the growth and feed intake of Boer goats in a feedlot system
This research sought to develop a mathematical model to predict the growth and feed intake of Boer goat kids destined for slaughter. Data were collected from castrated kids that were housed in individual pens and fed diets that varied in…
Concentrations of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in South African Mutton Merino sheep fed various sources of roughage
The objective of this study was to determine whether various sources of roughage in nutritionally balanced feedlot diets would evoke a stress response in sheep. A nutritional stress response test was performed on 20 ewes, randomly divided into four treatment…
