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Abstract. The impact of altitudinal zone on the nutritional quality of kermes oak (Quercus coccifera L.) acorns was assessed in Xirovouni Mountain shrublands in northwestern Greece. Whole acorns were collected during autumn 2011 from 15 sites located at three altitudinal zones (i.e. lower, middle, upper). Kermes oak acorn samples were manually separated into kernel and hull and analysed for chemical composition (crude protein, CP; neutral detergent fibre, NDF; acid detergent fibre, ADF; lignin), in vitro dry matter (DM) digestibility (IVDMD), in vitro NDF digestibility (IVNDFD), digestible energy (DE), and minerals (i.e. Ca, P, K, Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu). Altitude had a negative correlation with CP, IVDMD, and IVNDFD and positively correlated to cell wall contents in both kernel and hull. Acorns growing under higher temperatures (at lower altitude) have more digestible cell wall compared to acorns growing under lower temperatures (at higher altitude) due to increased CP content and decreased cell wall content. It seems that environmental factors affect the nutritional value of acorns. Thus, goat farmers should take this into account when collecting acorns to feed their animals.

This study presents the results of a survey conducted in the year 2013 in a subalpine grassland located in Epirus, in northwestern Greece, and concerns the determination of the chemical composition of nine wild plants species (Alopecurus gerardii V., Stipa pennata L., Phleum alpinum L., Trifolium repens L., Lathyrus aphaca L., Lotus corniculatus L., Ranunculus repens L., Achillea millefolium L., and Geranium lucidum L.) at various stages of growth. The highest mean neutral detergent fiber content was determined in S. pennata L. samples with 546 g kg−1 dry matter (DM). The highest mean acid detergent fiber content was determined in samples of A. gerardii L. with 358 g kg−1 DM. For calcium (Ca), the highest average content was determined in the samples of L. corniculatus L. with 9.6 g kg−1 DM. For phosphorus (P), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu), the highest average contents were determined in the samples of R. repens L. with 2.8 g kg−1 DM, 60.2 mg kg−1, and 5.6 mg kg−1 DM, respectively. For magnesium (Mg), the higher average content was found in L. aphaca L. samples with 1.6 g kg−1, for potassium (K) in G. lucidum L. samples with 15.6 g kg−1, for sodium (Na) in A. millefolium L. samples with 15.3 g kg−1, and for manganese (Mn) in P. alpinum L. samples with 37.9 mg kg−1. The chemical composition of plant species meets the nutritional requirements of grazing animals in the investigated area. Among the plant species, legumes and other forbs have the highest nutritional value.

The grazing activities of indigenous sheep of the greek breed »Serres« was investigated in a typical lowland, and in a mountainous pasture in northern Greece during the vegetative period (April-October) of 2008. Grazing time, resting and ruminating time, distance travel and air temperature in relation to pasturing month and altitude were examined. It was remarked significant effect (P<0.001) of the pasturing month on grazing time, and resting time of sheep. Mean grazing time was greater in the lowland (315.71 min/day ±4.57) than in the mountainous pasture (283.57 min/day ±4.79). On the contrary, the resting time and the distance travel of sheep were shorter in the lowland pasture. The resting time had significant (P<0.01) positive relationship to air temperature (r=0.777). Keywords

The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of seasonality on the chemical composition and concentration of phenolic compounds in some ligneous species. The research was conducted at the Aristotle University’s farm, Thessaloniki, Greece. From five ligneous species (Robinia pseudoacacia var. monophylla, Amorpha fruticosa, Colutea arborescens, Morus alba and Arbutus unedo) samples (leaves and twigs) were collected during two different seasons (spring and autumn). All samples were analyzed for crude protein (CP), Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), Acid Detergent Lignin (ADL) and in vitro dry matter (DM) digestibility (IVDMD), as well as for total phenols (TPH), total tannins (TT) and condensed tannins (CT). The CP content was generally lower and higher in leaves and stems of A. unedo and R. pseudoacacia, respectively compared to the other tested species. A. unedo had the highest values in NDF and ADL in leaves and the highest ADL content in stems. M. alba and C. arborescens in leaves and C. arborescens in stems had the lowest values of ADL content. M. alba had the significantly highest value in IVDMD and A. unedo the lowest one in both leaves and stems. Season had no significant effect on TPH, TT, and CT of leaves, while in stems they were significantly higher in autumn. A. unedo had the highest concentration of TPH, TT and R. pseudoacacia of CT in the leaves. TPH, TT, and CT concentration in stems was significantly higher in A. unedo. According to the findings, the impact of maturation on the type and the concentration of phenols and tannins is species-dependent.