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 response of growing pigs to dietary protein
The response of growing pigs to a range of dietary protein contents was both simulated and measured over a 12-w period from 74 d of age. Six dietary protein concentrations of 0.7 to 1.2-times the TOPIGS recommended levels were used…
Effects of STAT5B and BMPR-1B genes on growth and production traits in Red Jungle Fowl, Fayoumi, Hilly chickens, and their crossbreeds
This study explored the genome sequence, genetic diversity, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the STAT5B and BMPR-1B genes, and their association across Red Jungle Fowl (RJF), Fayoumi (Fay), and Hilly chickens, as well as in Hilly Reddish Brown (RB)…
Effects of the dietary supplementation of a native probiotic on the blood metabolites, gut parameters, and meat quality of growing lambs
This study aimed to compare the efficacy of a native probiotic (indigenously produced Saccharomyces cerevisiae) with that of commercial S. cerevisiae in terms of the effects on blood metabolites, gut histology, the expression of genes related to the ruminal epithelium,…
Short communication: Impact of rest intervals and habituation on electro-ejaculated semen quality in merino-type rams
This study evaluated the effects of habituation and electro-ejaculation techniques on semen quality in merino-type rams in South Africa, aiming to refine the electro-ejaculation method to improve semen quality. Parameters assessed included semen volume, sperm motility, sperm viability, sperm concentration,…
Potential benefits of early-life supplementation of feed additives on the growth and health of lambs
Neonatal mortality in small ruminant production is a significant economic challenge for farmers, requiring techniques to improve survival rates among newborn lambs. This study focused on mitigating neonatal lamb mortality and enhancing growth rates under semi-intensive farming conditions in the…
The identification of Campylobacter contamination in chicken meat sold for human consumption in the Eşme district using nested PCR
The Eşme district was chosen for this study based on food safety concerns in the area. Campylobacter spp. are the most prevalent bacteria responsible for food-borne bacterial diseases globally and are present in significant amounts in fowl gut flora. There…
Effects of heat stress on the physiological responses and vaginal microbiome of Hanwoo cows
Temperature increases due to climate change induce heat stress in livestock, resulting in economic losses for farmers. This study investigated the physiological responses of Hanwoo cattle to heat stress, and the effects of heat stress on the vaginal microbiome. Four…
Ultrasound scanning figures and lambing rates of merino-type ewes
This study assessed ultrasound scanning as a proxy for observed reproduction records, quantified the effects of lambing year and ewe age, and estimated repeatability of traits to predict current-flock gains. Data for number of lambs recorded per ewe scanned, lambs…
Effects of dietary grape pomace powder supplementation on the performance, egg quality, hatchability, and blood parameters of laying quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)
This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with grape pomace powder (GP) on the performance, egg quality and hatchability, and blood biochemistry of quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). A total of 200 quails (323.90 ± 1.991 g body weight) were…
Changes in cardiac troponin I (cTnI), T (cTnT), and some biochemical parameters in Arabian racehorses after training
The aim of this study was to compare the changes in the content of cTnI, cTnT and some biochemical parameters (CK–MB, LDH, AST, ALT) in Arabian racehorses before and after training. Diagnosis of myocardial disease in horses is very difficult…
Organic minerals, tributyrin, and blend of organic acids in the diet of commercial laying hens at the end of production
This study aimed to evaluate the responses in performance, egg quality, and health of internal organs of laying hens of Hisex White lineage. The birds were provided with diets supplemented with organic minerals (OM) + tributyrin, associated or not with…
The relationship between the internal and external morphological parameters of honeybee queens (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and the determination of morphological variation
This study was carried out to determine the crucial external and internal morphological characteristics for evaluating queens in three rearing periods (May, June, and July). Data of 65 queens reared from the local honeybees of the Sanliurfa (Apis mellifera L.)…
Principal Component Analysis of morphometric traits and body indices in South African Kalahari Red goats
Principal component analysis (PCA) is a vital statistical technique for defining the morphological structure of livestock but has not been used in South African Kalahari Red goats. Thirteen morphometric traits and eleven body indices from two hundred and ninety-six (296)…
Serological and haemato-biochemical insights into bovine leukosis in dairy cattle in D.I. Khan, Pakistan
Bovine leukosis is an economically important disease of dairy cattle caused by the bovine leukaemia virus (BLV). The study aimed to determine the seroprevalence, haemato-biochemical effects, and risk factors pertinent to the prevalence of bovine leukosis in Holstein–Friesian purebred dairy…
Evaluation of Phyllanthus niruri L. powder on growth performance, haematology, and intestinal morphology of broilers
The objective of this study was to evaluate the dietary supplementation of Phyllanthus niruri L. powder (meniran powder, MeP) on the productivity, haematology profiles, and intestinal morphology of broilers. A total of 200 female, one-day-old chickens were allocated to five…
Synthesis and antibacterial activity of a ZnO-fibre complex
In this experiment, a ZnO-fibre complex was prepared using the hydrothermal methods of "water solubility," "coupling agent," and "high temperature and high pressure". Binding rate, antibacterial activity, microstructure, and the infrared spectrum were measured using biomimetic digestion, bacterial proliferation tests,…
Effects of far infrared ray illumination on the performance, blood biochemistry, and faecal microflora of laying hens at different production stages
This study investigated the effect of far-infrared ray (FIR) illumination on performance, blood biochemistry, and faecal microflora of laying hens at different production stages. A total of 360 Hy-line brown laying hens were randomly allocated in a 2 × 2…
Effects of mulberry leaves on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of Japanese quail
This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of mulberry leaves on performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of Japanese quail. A total of 240 one-day-old Japanese quail chicks were randomly allocated to three experimental groups and fed a basal…
The effect of formaldehyde treatment of canola oilcake meal and sweet lupins on the in situ dry matter and crude protein digestibility
The value of feed protein sources in ruminant nutrition is measured by how effectively the protein is degraded in the rumen and converted into microbial protein. High-producing ruminants acquire high nutritional requirements to sustain their metabolic demands for production and…
Differential gene expression in the Longissimus dorsi of Nguni and Bonsmara bulls finished on low and high energy diets
Objectives of this research were to examine differential gene expression profiles of Nguni and Bonsmara cattle fed diets differing in their energy density. The ultimate goal was to improve understanding of the mechanisms that underlie differences between these breeds and…
