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
Allozyme variation in African elephant (Loxodonta africana) from the Kruger National Park, South Africa
Genetic variation within and differentiation between juvenile and adult elephants (Loxodonta africana) culled during April 1992 and May 1993 were compared to determine the effect of culling on successive generations. Gene products of 25 protein-coding loci were examined by horizontal…
Determination of responses of growing pigs to dietary energy concentration
The responses in growing pigs to balanced diets at different dietary energy levels are estimated from published data after recalculation of digestible energy (DE) levels using standard tables. Although responses in live weight gain (ADG), food intake (FI) digestible energy…
A breeding goal for South African Holstein Friesians in terms of economic weights in percentage units
In South Africa the exact breeding goal for Holstein Friesians still needs to be determined. This means that the traits, which should be most important in selection have to be identified. One method to identify these traits could be to…
Genetic variation in blood proteins within and between 19 sheep breeds from Southern Africa
The amount of allozyme variation within, and the extent of genetic differentiation between, 19 sheep breeds from Southern Africa were determined by six genetic blood systems commonly used to distinguish between animal breeds. Another eight enzyme-coding loci were analysed for…
Commercial ostrich farming in Botswana
According to the returns to the Department of Animal health and Production in December 1996 there were only 10 registered ostrich farms in Botswana with a total of 4305 ostriches kept. Ostriches of all ages were kept and the juveniles,…
Studies on small ruminant breeds with inherent differences in fibre production and ewe productivity 1. Relationship between ewe
Ewe productivity, as affected by varying wool production potential in different environments was studied in three woolled sheep flocks. Production and reproduction data collected in the Carnarvon Afrino Flock (AC) between 1979 and 1992, as well as data of the…
The utilisation of maize-crop residues for overwintering livestock: 1. Performance of pregnant beef cows as affected by stocking
Over a three-year period (1986 to 1988), non-lactating, pregnant Sussex beef cows were subjected to grazing maize crop residues over the winter feeding period at one of three stocking rates [1.75 (LSR), 3.5 (MSR) or 5.26 (HSR) cows /ha]. Cows…
The utilisation of maize-crop residues for overwintering livestock 2. Strip and continuous grazing of maize-crop residues
Over a three-year period (1989 to 1991), non-lactating, pregnant Sussex beef cows were subjected to either strip or continuous grazing of maize-crop residues over the winter feeding period. Stocking rate was based on providing each cow with 10 kg dry…
The utilisation of maize-crop residues for over wintering livestock 3. Livestock performance as affected by different cattle to
During 1993, different ratios of cattle : sheep grazed maize-crop residues at the Dundee Research Station. The treatments comprised cattle only (T1; 8 heifers), high cattle : low sheep (T2; 6 heifers : 8 wethers), low cattle : high sheep…
Attempts to improve the yield of bovine blastocysts by incorporating insulin, selenium and transferring in the in vitro system
The aim of the present investigation was to improve maturation, fertilisation and blastocyst production rates by adding insulin (10 μg /ml), selenium (10 ng /ml) or transferring (10 μg /ml) individually and in different combinations to in vitro culture media…
Genetic environmental trends for first lactation milk traits in the South African Ayrshire breed
Estimated breeding values and genetic trends were obtained in Ayrshire cattle by using DFREML procedures for 9 050 first lactation records calving down from 1977 to 1992. Environmental trends were calculated as the difference between the phenotypic and genetic values…
Variance component and heritability estimates for first and second lactation milk traits in the South African Ayrshire breed
For the estimation of additive and error variances and resulting heritability estimates 9 050 first and 5 541 second lactation records were used. Analyses were conducted using DFREML procedures. The heritabilities for first (and second) lactation for milk, fat and…
An evaluation of Bana grass, Greengold and Pennaris. I. Intake by sheep and production characteristics
Three Pennisetum selections, Bana, Greengold and Pennaris, were evaluated asforage for sheep. Dry matter yield, 1eaf:stem ratio and intake were determined at two regrowth heights, namely 300 mm and 800 mm. The trials were repeated in autumn, spring and summer…
An evaluation of Bana, Greengold and Pennaris.
The objective was to study the partial digestion by sheep of the 500-mm regrowthof three Pennisetum selections (Bana, Greengold and Pennaris) over three seasons (autumn, spring and summer). There were no differences (p > 0.05) between selections in the quality…
Mitochondrial DNA analysis of two Southern African
Mitochondrial DNA cleavage patterns from representative animals of the Afrikanerand Nguni sanga cattle breeds, indigenous to Southern Africa, were compared to the mitochondrial DNA cleavage patterns of the Brahman (zebu) and the Jersey (taurine) cattle breeds. Identical restriction patterns were…
Genetic and phenotypic correlations among production and reproduction traits in Afrino sheep
Knowledge of genetic correlations among traits is essential for deriving a selectionstrategy for any breed. In this study, genetic and phenotypic correlations were estimated among weaning weight (WW), nine- (W9) and 18-month body weight (W18), clean fleece weight (CFW), mean…
Ruminal VFA production rates, whole body metabolite kinetics
Ten Dohne merino wethers with an average mass of 50 kg, were used to study differencesin ruminal VFA production rates, whole body kinetics of VFA, glucose and FFA as well as blood hormone concentrations when fed a high- or a…
The use of energy by the splanchnic tissues and their metabolism
Ten Dohne merino wethers with an average mass of 50 kg were used to study differencesin the use of energy by the splanchnic tissues and their metabolism of VFA, glucose and FFA when fed high- or low-fibre diets. Dietary carbohydrate…
The possible genetic improvement of reproduction and survival rate in Afrino sheep using a threshold model
The objective of this study was to estimate heritability and breeding values on theunderlying scale for different reproductive traits and survival rate in Afrino sheep to ascertain whether they can be improved by selection on estimated breeding values obtained under…
