The South African Journal of Animal Science is an open access journal. The journal publishes reports of research dealing with production of farmed animal species (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, poultry and ostriches), as well as pertinent aspects of research on aquatic and wildlife species. All submitted articles are subjected to a single-blind peer review process that is managed by a sub-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.
The South African Journal of Animal Science makes use of an Online Journal Management System that was developed in collaboration with the Agricultural Research Council to facilitate the manuscript submission and review process. Authors are kindly requested to submit all articles for publication in the South African Journal of Animal Science via the Online Journal Management system.
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Dietary supplementation with zinc oxide nanoparticles improves growth performance and gut microbiota of broiler chickens reared in the tropics
This study evaluated the effect of zinc oxide (ZnO) on growth performance, serum biochemistry, and gut microbial counts of broiler chickens reared in a tropical environment. A total of 120 one-day-old broiler chicks were assigned using a completely randomized design…
Effect of long-term, exogenous administration of oxytocin on milk production, composition, somatic cell count, and progesterone in postpartum Nili-Ravi buffalo
This study sought to explore the effect of the administration of long-term, exogenous oxytocin on buffalo milk. In this study, newly-calved postpartum buffaloes (Nili-Ravi) (n = 24) were divided equally into three groups: (control without oxytocin – CON, 10 i.u.…
Prediction of milk yield using visual images of cows through deep learning
The objective of the study was to determine, through deep learning, the predictability of milk yield from a cow's side-view, rear-view image, or a combination of the two. The data size of 1 238 image pairs (the side-view and rear-view…
Natural additives as a source of antioxidants improve lipid oxidation, antioxidant activity, and shelf-life of beef
Forty young bulls were finished in feedlot with diets that contained different dosages of a combination of several natural additives (NA), i.e., clove essential oil, cashew and castor oil, and rumen-protected eugenol, vanillin, and thymol. The animals were randomized in…
Carcass yields in the main Algerian populations of camels: Sahraoui, Targui, steppe camel, and Reguibi (Camelus dromedarius L., 1758)
The carcass yield varies from one animal species to another and depends on various factors, such as the age of the animal, its health condition, diet, and activity level. The main objective of this study was to determine the yield…
Early lactational response to rumen-protected methionıne supplementation in dairy buffalo fed forage-based diets
This study determined the effects of rumen-protected methionine (RPMet) supplementation on milk yield and milk composition in early lactation dairy buffalo fed a forage-based diet. A total of 20 lactating, multiparous Anatolia water buffalo were used, with a mean initial…
Citric acid in the diet of male Venda chickens: Effects on carcass characteristics and physico-chemical attributes
This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of citric acid (CA) on carcass characteristics and physico-chemical attributes of male Venda chickens. A total of 200 male, one-day-old Venda chicks were distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments…
PCV2: The unexpected threat – How fish infection can transform industries and society: A pilot study
Integrated fish and livestock farming is an ancient practice and is used to increase production per unit area and reduce the environmental impact caused by untreated animal excreta. Although integrated aquaculture has been used in some countries, including Brazil, this…
Effects of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua and Semen Cassiae feed additive on intestinal microflora of Wanxi White Goose
The widespread use of antibiotics in poultry breeding has led to drug resistance of pathogenic microorganisms. With long-term dependence on antibiotics, immunity in poultry has decreased, increased susceptibility and seriously affecting the quality of poultry protein products and consumer health.…
Factors influencing consumer preferences for goat meat
In recent years, there has been a dramatic spike in meat prices in Algeria and globally and this has substantially influenced meat consumption trends. The study aims to understand the factors that influence consumer perceptions and goat meat consumption behaviour…
Effects of maternal L‑glutamine supplementation during late gestation on litter performance
To evaluate the effects of glutamine (Gln) supplementation on sow performance during late gestation and lactation and their offspring, eighty pregnant, multiparous sows of a commercial hybrid line were used in a completely randomized, 2 × 2 experimental design at…
The first morphological study of the Sloughi dog breed in Algeria
The present work aims to study morphometric profile, calculate body indices, and determine mathematical models that will be used for the estimation of adult live weights based on body measurements using multiple regression models in an endangered heritage breed, the…
Assessment of sperm quality of communal goats in the hard-veld region of Botswana
The objective of this study was to assess semen characteristics of bucks kept under communal management systems in the hard-veld, southern part of Botswana. In early autumn, semen was collected from 22 bucks ranging from ≤ 2 to ≥5 years…
Quality traits of table eggs as affected by management practices and storage periods
This study evaluated the external and internal quality characteristics after various storage periods (SP) of eggs from different management practices (MP) regarding layer hen housing and feeding systems. One hundred eggs collected from farms with Lohman Sandy hens raised in…
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…