Abstract
Interannual and monthly variations of herbage production and nutritive value regarding grazing ruminants' needs and welfare were evaluated in three grasslands (semi-mountainous, mountainous and sub-alpine) located at different altitudes (480-900, 901-1500 and 1501-2334 m, respectively) in northern Greece during 2015-2016. Herbage biomass was collected from 30 experimental cages (10 per grassland), weighed, dried at 65 ∘∘<math><msup><mi></mi> <mo>∘</mo></msup> </math> C, milled and analyzed for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin, calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) content and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD). The sub-alpine grassland was the most productive (1031 and 1231 kg DM ha −1-1<math><msup><mi></mi> <mrow><mo>-</mo> <mn>1</mn></mrow> </msup> </math> ) with the highest mean annual herbage CP content (93 and 87 g kg −1-1<math><msup><mi></mi> <mrow><mo>-</mo> <mn>1</mn></mrow> </msup> </math> dry matter; DM) for 2015 and 2016, respectively. CP content was sufficient to meet small ruminants' and beef cattle maintenance requirements until April and May in the semi-mountainous and mountainous grasslands, respectively, while it could cover the above requirements in the sub-alpine grassland until June and August, respectively. The herbage Ca concentration was higher than the grazing ruminants' needs, while the phosphorus concentration was insufficient. Protein and phosphorus supplementation should be provided to animals to cover their maintenance requirements during the whole period and to reach high levels of welfare. Even though grazing is considered as a welfare-friendly procedure, it is uncertain whether all the welfare principals are satisfied in extensive production systems due to variations of forage availability and nutritive value as well as the lack of infrastructure in grasslands.