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 persistence to slaughter age of scars resulting from damage inflicted to ostrich skin during the grow-out phase
Damage to ostrich skins in the form of cuts and scratches obtained during growth result in lower quality skins that fetch lower prices. This represents a major financial loss to the ostrich industry. The stage at which such damage occurs…
The effects of storage temperature and position on embryonic mortality of ostrich (Struthio camelus) eggs
The present study was carried out with the aim of determining the effects of storage temperature and storage position on embryonic mortalities of ostrich eggs. A total of 229 ostrich eggs was collected from two commercial ostrich farms. The effects…
Age trends in economically important traits of Merino ewes subjected to 10 years of divergent selection for multiple rearing abi
Data were recorded for annual reproduction, wool traits and pre-joining live weight of between 992 (for staple strength) to approximately 1200 production records of Merino ewes over the period from 1997 to 2002. The resource population has been divergently selected…
Sensory and objective mutton quality characteristics of SA Merino sheep selected for and against reproductive fitness
The effect of divergent selection for ewe multiple-rearing ability over a 15-year period on mutton quality was examined on the M. longissimus dorsi and M. semimembranosus of entire rams (R) and ewes (E) derived from two Merino lines. The selection…
The chemical composition, energy and amino acid digestibilities of cowpeas for use in poultry nutrition
The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition and digestibility of cowpea in poultry diets. Three cowpea cultivars, Glenda, Agrinawa and Indigenous were evaluated. The cultivars showed a wide range of protein contents (253.47 to 264.27 g/kg)…
Derivation of standard lactation curves for South African dairy cows
Standard Lactation Curves were derived for South African Holstein and Jersey cows, using twenty herd -, eighteen age - and six season classes. Six herd classes were below and 13 above the average production level for both breeds. A standard…
Protein requirements of growing indigenous chickens during the 14-21 weeks growing period
A study was conducted to investigate the growth response to diet protein level of growing indigenous chicken between 14 and 21 weeks old. The chickens were offered diets ad libitum with 100, 120, 140, 160 and 180 g crude protein…
The efficacy of a 10% aqueous Neem (Azadirachta indica) seed extract for tick control in small East African and Toggenburg femal
The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the efficacy of Neem seed extract (10% water solution) for tick control in goats in the Kilimanjaro area of Tanzania. Eighteen Small East African (SEA) and Toggenburg (TB) female goat kids between…
The effect of an essential oil combination derived from selected herbs growing wild in Turkey on broiler performance
One thousand two hundred and fifty sexed day-old broiler chicks obtained from a commercial hatchery were randomly divided into five treatment groups of 250 birds each (negative control, antibiotic and essential oil combination at three levels). Each treatment group was…
The influence of separate-sex rearing on ostrich behaviour and skin damage
Separate-sex rearing of slaughter ostriches was investigated as a management strategy to minimize skin damage. Day-old ostrich chicks were divided into three treatment groups; a group of mixed-gender and two single-sex groups, one male and one female. At three months…
Oviposition and egg quality traits of dwarf and naked neck layers
Oviposition and egg quality traits were studied in dwarf and naked neck layers in Maputo (Mozambique), during a 28-d period at 35 weeks of age. Birds were caged individually in a laying house with natural light and ventilation. Average daylight…
The response to selection during first lactation on the phenotypic and genetic trends in the Elsenburg Holstein-Friesland herd
A breeding policy to improve milk production in the Elsenburg Holstein-Friesland herd was adopted in 1984. Cow selection was based on partial (90 days) and completed (300 days) lactation records of 4% fat corrected milk and protein yields during first…
Variation in the chemical composition, physical characteristics and energy values of cereal grains produced in the Western Cape
Grain samples were produced at 10 different locations in the Western Cape region of South Africa, on 2.1m x 6m experimental plots, over a period of 3 years. Twenty different cereal grain cultivars were used in the study. A randomised…
Transcervical embryo recovery in Saanen goats
In order to study the embryo recovery rate using the transcervical technique in Saanen goats raised in the tropics, 20 donors were submitted to an oestrus synchronisation treatment using intravaginal progestagen sponges for 11 days. On the ninth day of…
The chemical composition and potential nutritive value of the foliage of four subtropical tree species in southern Africa for ru
The foliage of three Combretum species, C. apiculatum, C. molle and C. zeyheri, as well as that of Colophospermum mopane was collected over a period of two years. The chemical composition, in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and the rumen…
Development of breeding objectives for beef cattle breeding: Derivation of economic values (Review article)
The purpose of this article is to review the development of breeding objectives in beef cattle breeding and the derivation of economic values. There seems to be general consensus that definition of breeding objectives should be the primary step in…
Molecular genetic analysis of the Chinese Erhualian pig breed
The Chinese Erhualian is one of the most prolific pig breeds in the world, but it is in danger of being replaced by other exotic pig breeds because of its slow growth rate and high fat content in the body…
The growth and carcass and meat characteristics of pigs raised in a free-range or conventional housing system
The growth performance and the carcass and physical and chemical characteristics of the meat of 24 Landrace X Large White pigs were compared when reared under a free-range or a conventional housing system. The free-range pigs had lower feed intakes…
Correlated responses in tissue weights measured in vivo by computer tomography in Dorset Down sheep selected for lean tissue gro
The aim of this study was to estimate correlated responses in lean, fat and bone weights in vivo in Dorset Down sheep selected for lean tissue growth. Over the period 1986-1992 inclusive, the lean tissue growth line had been selected…
The effects of docking on performance and carcass characteristics of male Karakas lambs
The effects of tail docking on growth performance and carcass characteristics of fat-tailed male Karakas lambs were investigated. A total of 23 Karakas single-born male lambs was used in this study. Nine were docked at one day of age using…
