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 effect of live weight, male to female ratio and breeder age on reproduction performance in Japanese quails (Coturnix coturni
This study was carried out to determine the effect of live weight, male to female ratio and breeder age on egg weight and the hatching characteristics in Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Female quails at the age of six weeks,…
Relative performance and efficiency of five Merino and Merino-type dam lines in a terminal crossbreeding system with Dormer or S
The production performance of ewes was assessed in a terminal crossbreeding experiment involving five Merino and Merino-type dam lines and two terminal crossbreeding sire breeds. Dam lines were SA Mutton Merino (SAMM), SAMM rams crossed to Merino ewes (SAMM cross),…
Effects of dietary mannanoligosaccharide on performance of Japanese quail affected by aflatoxicosis
The potential of the yeast component, mannanoligosaccharide (MOS) to ameliorate the effects of aflatoxicosis was examined in growing Japanese quail. The product was incorporated in the diet at 1 g/kg and was evaluated for its ability to reduce the deleterious…
Description of the Friesian Horse population of South Africa and Namibia
Data obtained from the Friesian Horse Studbook of Southern Africa and Friesian Horse Breeders’ Society of South Africa were analyzed to describe and evaluate the population regarding inbreeding and morphological body measurements. Eight different body measurements (height at withers, height…
Sperm storage and duration of fertility in female ostriches (Struthio camelus)
In two experiments, one carried in South Africa and the other in Western Australia, the duration of sperm storage and the fertile period following separation of sexes were investigated by egg break-out and by counting the sperm in the perivitelline…
Application of random regression models to the genetic evaluation of cow weight in Bonsmara cattle of South Africa
Repeated records (n = 58,295) of Bonsmara cows were used to evaluate mature cow weight (CW), using random regression animal models (RRM). Cows (n = 11,847), age two to 11 years (AY), were weighed at weaning of their calves. Data…
Effect of dietary supplementation of herb essential oils on the growth performance, carcass and intestinal characteristics of qu
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), black seed (Nigella sativa L.) essential oils and flavomycin added to the diets on growth performance, carcass characteristics and intestinal organ weights of quails (Coturnix…
Evaluation of forages as mineral sources for camels in western Marsabit, Kenia
A survey to identify forage mineral sources for settlement-based camels was carried out in the semi-arid rangelands of the southwestern Marsabit district of Kenya during dry and wet periods. The respondents included men and boys who were responsible for the…
Slaughter traits of Merino sheep divergently selected for multiple rearing ability
Carcass data of 114 19-month-old Merino sheep descended from two lines that were divergently selected for maternal multiple rearing ability (H and L lines, respectively) were used. In study A only ram progeny of the same age were slaughtered, while…
The effect of oregano and rosemary essential oils or alpha-tocopheryl acetate on performance and lipid oxidation of meat enriche
The study was conducted to compare the effects of two essential oils, fed individually or in combination, with alpha-tocopheryl acetate (alpha-TA) on performance parameters and lipid oxidation of broiler meat enriched with n-3 PUFAs. Seven hundred and twenty day-old Hubbard-JV…
Effects of different hatcher temperatures on hatching traits of broiler embryos during the last five days of incubation
This study deals with the effects of different hatcher temperatures on hatching traits in modern commercial broiler eggs during the last five days of incubation. The hatching eggs were obtained from a 52-wk old (Ross 308) flock. All eggs were…
The effect of a mixture of herbal essential oils, an organic acid or a probiotic on broiler performance
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with an essential oil mixture, a commercially available organic acid and a probiotic on growth performance and carcass yield of broilers. One thousand two hundred and…
Growth, feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of Karakas and crossbred lambs (F1) (Ile de France x Akkaraman (G1) x Ka
In this study the possibilities of using the Ile de France x Akkaraman (G1) genotype (IDFAG1) in improving the growth performance and carcass characteristics of fat-tailed Karakas sheep raised in rural farm conditions in the Van Region of Eastern Anatolia,…
Comparison between in situ dry matter degradation and in vitro gas production of tannin-containing leaves from four tree species
Dry matter (DM) degradation of Glycrrhiza glabra L, Arbutus andrachne, Juniperus communis, and Pistica lentiscus was determined using two different techniques: (i) the in vitro gas production and (ii) the in situ nylon bag degradability technique. Samples were incubated in…
A random regression model in analysis of litter size in pigs
Dispersion parameters for number of piglets born alive (NBA) were estimated using a random regression model (RRM). Two data sets of litter records from the Nemscak farm in Slovenia were used for analyses. The first dataset (DS1) included records from…
Comparison of the thermostability and efficacy of a solid-substrate culture and a liquid culture phytase in broiler chickens
A 14-day battery trial using 336 four-day old male broilers was undertaken to compare the thermostability and efficacy of phytase produced in solid-substrate culture, a Solid Substrate Enzyme Product (SSEP), with phytase produced in liquid culture, a Liquid Enzyme Product…
Genetic variance components for residual feed intake and feed conversion ratio and their correlations with other production trai
Feeding costs of animals is a major determinant of profitability in livestock production enterprises. Genetic selection to improve feed efficiency aims to reduce feeding cost in beef cattle and thereby improve profitability. This study estimated genetic (co)variances between weaning weight…
A genetic analysis of epistaxis as associated with EIPH in the Southern African Thoroughbred
Pedigree and race run data from Thoroughbreds racing in Southern Africa, covering the period 1986-2002 (63 146 horses in pedigree data-set and 778 532 race runs), were analysed in order to study genetic and environmental factors affecting the incidence of…
The effects of storage condition and preservatives on maize-based diets for broiler chickens
A study was conducted to assess the effects of varying storage temperature and relative humidity (RH) conditions, and feed preservatives (a mixture of Mold-Zap (a fungal inhibitor) and Banox E (an antioxidant)) on performance, visceral organ weight, serum biochemistry and…
Preliminary assessment of Boer and Kiko does as maternal lines for kid performance under humid, subtropical conditions
Thirty Boer and 27 Kiko does were exposed to Spanish bucks and evaluated for doe reproduction, pre-weaning kid growth, and production efficiency in the humid, subtropical south-eastern United States. Does of each breed were represented by at least seven seed…
