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
Production of five Merino type lines in a terminal crossbreeding system with Dormer or Suffolk sires
This study details the production performance of ewes and lambs that originated from a terminal crossbreeding experiment that involved five Merino type dam lines and two terminal crossbreeding sire lines from 1999 to 2002. Ewe lines were SA Mutton Merino…
A comparison between the effects of two cropping methods on the meat quality of impala (Aepyceros melampus)
Impala (Aepyceros melampus) constitute one of the most commercially important species in game farming in South Africa. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of day and night cropping on the meat quality characteristics of impala. Emphasis…
Effects of egg weight and length of storage on hatchability and subsequent growth performance of quail
This study was to investigate the effects of hatching egg weight and length of storage period on hatchability and subsequent growth performance of quail. A total of 2304 eggs was collected from a quail flock, aged 17 weeks. The eggs…
Genetic parameters and trends for birth weight, birth coat score and weaning weight in Merino lines divergently selected for ewe
Data were recorded for birth weight, birth coat score and weaning weight of between 2018 and 4235 Merino lambs born over a 17-year interval from 1986 to 2002. The resource population was divergently selected from the same base population since…
The effect of rumen inert fat supplementation and protein degradability in starter and finishing diets on veal calf performance
Thirty six Holstein bull calves were divided into six groups to determine the effect of protein degradability and rumen inert fat supplementation in starter and finishing diets on nutrient digestibility and veal production. Calves received low (LD) or high (HD)…
Effects of dietary fish oil and flax seed on cholesterol and fatty acid composition of egg yolk and blood parameters of laying h
This study was conducted to determine the effects of the supplementation of different levels of fish oil (FO) and flax seed (FS) in the diets of layers on the content of egg yolk fatty acid, cholesterol, blood parameters, egg production…
Chlorocholine chloride residue distribution in eggs, breast and femur meat of laying hens determined by labelled-15N estimates
The distribution of chlorocholine chloride (CCC) residue or its metabolites in the meat and eggs of laying hens was studied using the 15N delta value (d15N) and 15N atom % derived from 15N-CCC containing diets. In a completely randomised design,…
The efficacy of neem seed extract (Azadirachta indica) to control tick infestation in Tswana, Simmentaler and Brahman cattle
The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the use of neem seed extract for controlling common cattle ticks of the Ixodidae species. Three bulls and three cows of the Tswana, Brahman and Simmentaler breeds were cleared of ticks using…
The value of kikuyu foggage for overwintering dry ewes
Kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) is a summer growing tropical pasture species well adapted to the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal. Kikuyu foggage (standing hay) could play an important role in a fodder flow programme to sustain dry ewes during late winter after their…
Effect of supplementation on reproduction of wet season kidding Tswana goats
Seventy-seven mature Tswana goats were used to investigate the effect of supplementation on reproduction of wet season kidding animals. Treatments groups with similar weights were: Unsupplemented Control (UC), Continuous Supplementation (CS), Before Rain Supplementation (BRS) and After Rain Supplementation (ARS)…
Variance component estimation of female fertility traits in two indigenous and two European beef cattle breeds of South Africa
Field data for the period 1976 to 1998 from South African and Namibian Afrikaner, Drakensberger, SA Angus and Simmentaler beef cattle breeds was used to investigate two fertility traits, calving rate (CR) and calving success (CS). Calving rate, a lifetime…
The value of supplementary feeding to preweaned and weaned lambs grazing Italian ryegrass
The variation in, and often the disappointingly poor weight gains and the inability of lambs to achieve desirable carcass grades on ryegrass pastures have long been a concern to researchers, extension officers, advisors and farmers. The objectives of this study…
The effect of Charolais and Hereford sires and straightbred and crossbred dams on pre-weaning growth of calves
Weaning performance of calves sired by Charolais and Hereford on dams of Angus, Bonsmara and Hereford and various crossbred dam combinations was compared. Charolais sired calves were on average 5 kg heavier at birth and 20 kg heavier at weaning…
A comparison between single and composite milk samples for the genetic evaluation of milk composition in dairy cattle
simulation study was carried out to compare the use of single and composite milk samples for the evaluation of milk composition in dairy cattle. The genetic correlation between the two sampling methods was estimated. Results showed a high genetic correlation…
The use of n alkane markers to estimate the intake and apparent digestibility of ryegrass and Kikuyu by horses
The n alkane marker (dosed marker, dotriacontane, C32, herbage markers C31, C33 and C35) technique was evaluated for use in feed intake and digestibility studies with horses. The mean retention time of digesta in the digestive tract was determined in…
Lambing behaviour of Merino ewes from lines subjected to divergent selection for multiple rearing ability from the same base pop
Timing of birth and birth site selection were investigated in two lines of grazing Merino sheep that had been divergently selected for multiple rearing ability. Time budgets in the neonatal phase were also compared between the two lines. Parturition was…
Genetic parameter estimates of early growth traits in the Tygerhoek Merino flock
Genetic parameters were estimated for birth weight (BWT), weaning weight (WWT) and pre-weaning average daily gain (ADG) using Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML) procedures. Four different animal models were fitted, differentiated by including or excluding maternal effects. The direct heritability estimates…
Genetic parameters of testicular measurements in Merino rams and the influence of scrotal circumference on total flock fertility
Genetic parameter estimates for scrotal circumference (SC), testis diameter (TD) and two-tooth liveweight (LW) were obtained for 1380 two-tooth Merino rams born from 1986 to 1998 on the Tygerhoek Experimental Farm. The effect of SC of service sires (n =…
The chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility of untreated and ammoniated crop residues
The chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of untreated and ammoniated crop residues, sampled at various sites in the North West Province of South Africa, were investigated. The mean IVDMD of maize residues obtained by means of…
Correlations of subjectively assessed fleece and conformation traits with production and reproduction in Afrino sheep
Data used for this study were collected on the Carnarvon Afrino flock from 1986 to 1998, and include data records on several subjectively assessed traits, body weight and fleece traits of 3291 animals, the progeny of 127 sires and 772…
