Prof. George Zervas
Head of Animal Nutrition Department
of the Agricultural University of Athens

Iera Odos 75, Athens, GR-118 55, Greece
Tel. +30 210 5294411, Fax: +30 210 5294413
E-mail: gzervas@aua.gr

Born in 1951. Graduate of the Agricultural University of Athens (1974), gained B.Sc. with 81% in Animal Science. Scholar of the Greek State Scholarship Foundation from 1969 to 1974. Research Fellowship at the Dept of Animal Nutrition (1978-1980). Ph.D. at Leeds University of U.K. (Dept of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, 1980-1983). Lecturer (1983), Assistant Professor (1989), Associate Professor (1996), and Professor (2001) at the Dept of Animal Nutrition of the Agricultural University of Athens. Head of Animal Nutrition Dept since 1999. Elected Vice President of the Animal Science Faculty (1999, 2001), Secretariat of the Nutrition Commission of the European Association for Animal Production (EAAP) (2000), Vice President of Livestock Farming Systems Commission of EAAP (2002), and elected General Secretariat of the Hellenic Society of Animal Science (1992, 1996, 2000). Member of the editorial board of the Livestock Production Science Journal (since 1999). Member of the Nutrition Society, British Society of Animal Science and the Geotechnical Chamber of Greece. Reviewer in International Scientific Journals and evaluator of research projects by the European Union and the National Research Foundation of Greece.

Research Interests

Ruminant animals' requirements in energy, protein (amino acids) and minerals. Trace element interactions (Se-I), minerals' bioavailability, dietary evaluation of agricultural by-products for animal feeding, study of livestock production systems mainly from nutritional point of view (grazing ruminants), digestion and metabolism of ruminant animals, effect of nutrition on reproduction and performance of small ruminants, and organic livestock production.

Teaching

  • Animal Physiology and Nutrition
  • Nutrition and Feeding of ruminant animals

Published papers

  1. TELFER, S.B. and ZERVAS, G. 1982. The release of copper from soluble glass bullets in the reticulorumen of sheep. Animal Production 34 (3): 379-380.
  2. TELFER, S.B., ZERVAS, G. AND KNOTT, P. 1983. Water soluble glass articles, their manufacture and their use in the treatment of ruminant animals. U.K. Patent Appl. 2116424 A.
  3. ZERVAS, G. 1983. The prevention of copper deficiency in ruminants by means of soluble glass rumen bullets. Ph.D. thesis, University of Leeds, Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, U.K. pp. 283.
  4. TELFER, S.B., ZERVAS, G. 1984. The effect of tracer glass-L on the copper, cobalt and selenium status of lambs. Animal Production 38 (3): 561.
  5. TELFER, S.B., ZERVAS, G. and CARLOS, G. 1984. Curing or preventing deficiencies in copper, cobalt and selenium in cattle and sheep using tracerglass. Canadian Journal of Animal Science. 64: 234-235.
  6. TELFER, S.B., ILLINGWORTH, D., ANDERSON, P., ZERVAS, G. and CARLOS, G. 1984. Effect of soluble glass boluses on the copper, cobalt and selenium status of sheep. 609th meeting of the Biochemical Society, Leeds, U.K. 1984. Abstracts, pp. 529.
  7. ZERVAS, G. and TELFER, S.B. 1984. Treatment of Cu deficiency in sheep by means of soluble glass boluses. 4th Annual Meeting of the Hellenic Society of Animal Production, Yannena of Greece, 1984.
  8. TELFER, S.B., ZERVAS, G. and CARLOS, G., LINKLATER, K.A. and WAIN, B. 1984. The effect of soluble glass boluses containing Cu, Co and Se on some blood parameters of calves. 3rd Meeting of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society. Corfu of Greece, 1984.
  9. KNOTT, P., ALGAR, B., ZERVAS, G. and TELFER, S.B. 1985. Glass - a medium for providing animals with supplementary trace elements. In: Trace Elements in Man and Animals (TEMA-5) ed. Mills, C.F., Bremner, I. and Chesters, J.K. pp. 708-714. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux, Slough.
  10. CARLOS, G., ZERVAS, G., DRIVER, P., ANDERSON, P.M., ILLINGWORTH, D.V., AL-TEKRITY, S. and ZERVAS, G. 1985. The effect of soluble glass boluses on the copper, cobalt and selenium status of Scottish Blackface ewes. In: Trace Elements in Man and Animals (TEMA-5) ed. Mills, C.F., Bremner, I. And Chesters, J.K., pp. 714-716. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureauk, Slough.
  11. CARE, A.D., ANDERSON, P., ILLINGWORTH, D.V., ZERVAS, G. and TELFER, S.B. 1985. The effect of soluble glass on the copper, cobalt and selenium status of Suffolk cross lambs. In: Trace Elements in Man and Animals (TEMA-5) ed. Mills, C.F., Bremner, I. And Chesters, J.K., pp. 717-719.
  12. ALGAR, B., IRLAM, P. KNOTT, P., TELFER, S.B. and ZERVAS, G. 1985. The use of soluble glasses to provide a controlled supply of trace elements to ruminant animals. Annual meeting of the Controlled Release Society, Genena of Swisscherland, 1985.
  13. APOSTOLOPOULOS, K., ZERVAS, G. and KALAISSAKIS, P. 1985. Management of Greek goat flocks in hill and high-land areas. 36th Annual Meeting of the European Assoc. For Animal Production, Halkidiki, Greece, Abstracts: vol. 2. pp. S58.
  14. ZERVAS, G., TELFER, S.B. and CARLOS, G. 1985. The use of copper, cobalt and selenium containing soluble glass boluses in the prevention of trace element deficiencies in cattle. 36th Annual Meeting of the European Assoc. For Animal Production, Halkidiki, Greece, Abstracts: vol. 1, pp, N5b. 20.
  15. KALAISAKIS, P., PAPADOPOULOS, G., ZERVAS, G. and FEGEROS K. 1986. Chemical Composition and nutritive value of Greek feedstuffs. 38th Annual Meeting of the European Assoc. For Animal Production, Lisbon of Portugal, 1987, Abstracts: vol1, p. N.1.8.
  16. ZERVAS, G. and TELFER, S.B. 1987. Prevention of trace element deficiencies in: I Cattle Bulletin of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society 38 (4): 251-257.
  17. ZERVAS, G., TELFER, S.B., AL-TEKRITY, A. and JONES, D. 1987. Prevention of trace element deficiencies in: II Sheep, Bulletin of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society 38 (4): 258-264.
  18. ZERVAS, G., CARRLOS, G. and TELFER, S.B. 1987. The use of Co - Cu-Se containing soluble glass boluses on the prevention of trace element deficiencies in lambs. World Review of Animal Production 23: 51-53.
  19. PANOPOULOU, E., ROGDAKIS, E., and ZERVAS, G. 1987. Genetic variance of Boutsiko breed sheep population 6th Annual Meeting of the Hellenic Soc. of Animal production, Animal Science Review 1988, pp.29.
  20. ZERVAS, G. 1988. Trace element concentrations in biological materials of sheep and goats of Thessalia area of Greece. Animal Science Review, 7: 85-96.
  21. GIVENS, D. I., ZERVAS, G., SIMPSON, V.R. and TELFER, S.B. (1988). Use of soluble glass rumen boluses to provide a supplement of copper for suckled calves. J. Agric. SCI., Camb. 110: 115-158.
  22. ZERVAS, G. 1988. Use of soluble glass boluses containing Cu, Co and Se in the prevention of trace-element deficiencies in goats. J. Agric. Sci., Camb, 110: 115-158.
  23. ZERVAS, G. 1988. Treatment of Dairy sheep with soluble glass boluses containing copper, cobalt and selenium. Animal Feed Sci. and Technology, 19: 79-83.
  24. ZERVAS, G., TELFER, S.B., CARLOS, G. and ANDERSON, P. 1988. The effect of soluble glass boluses on the copper, cobalt and selenium blood status of ewes. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 21: 23-29.
  25. ANKE, M., GROPEL, B., KRAUSE, U., ANGELOW, L., ARNHOLD, W., MASAOKA, T., BARHOOM, S. and ZERVAS, G. 1988. Normal Mn, Zn, Cu, Fe, I, Mo, Ni, As, Li and Cd supply dependent on the geological origin of the site and of its effects on the status of these elements in wild and domestic animals. In: Trace Elements in Man and Animals (-TEMA-7). Edited by L.S. Keen, BoLonnerdal and R. Rucker. Plenum Press, NEW YORK, London p.p. 663-665.
  26. ANKE, M., MASAOKA, T., GROPPEL, B., ZERVAS, G. and ARNHOLD, W. 1988. The influence of sulphur, molybdenum and cadmium exposure on the growth of goat, cattle and pig. Arch. Anim. Nutr., Berlin, 39: 221-228.
  27. FEGEROS, K., PAPADOPOULOS, G., ZERVAS, G., ZIRAS, E. And KAFANTARIS, B. 1989. Effect of Lasalocid Sodium and molasses on performance of fattening lambs and on rumen liquor and blood parameters. Archiv fur Tierernahrung 39: 921-931.
  28. ZERVAS, G., NIKOLAOU, E. and MANTZIOS, A. 1990. Comparative study of chronic copper poisoning in lambs and young goats. Animal Production, 50: 497-506.
  29. ZERVAS, G., FEGEROS, K., KAROUNTZOU, E., and PAPADOPOULOS, G. 1990. Nutritive evaluation of whole cotton seed for sheep. Animal Sci. Review, 25-38.
  30. ZERVAS, G., MENEGATOS, J., NIKOLAOU, E. and MANTZIOS, A. 1990. The effect of Mo on growth and testicular endocrine function of fattening lambs. 7th International Symposium on Trace Elements in Man and Animals, Dubrovnik of Yugoslavia, pp. 161.
  31. YANNAKOPOULOS, A., TSERVENI-GOUSI, A. and ZERVAS, G. 1990. Effect of dietary copper sulphate on the performance of growing Japanese quail. J. of Agric. Sci. Camb., 115: 291-293.
  32. ZERVAS, G. 1991. Methods of improvement of cereals nutritive value. A Review. Animal Science Review, 7: 23-40.
  33. ZERVAS, G. 1992. Applications of biotechnology on roughage nutritive value improvement. A Review. Animal Science Review, 11: 75-97.
  34. FEGEROS, K., ZERVAS, G., VAPHIADAKIS, T. 1993. Nutritive evaluation of citrus pulp for sheep. Animal Science Review, 12: 52-53.
  35. DIMITRAS, N., FEGEROS, K., ZERVAS, G., PAPADOPOULOS, G. 1993. Effect of grape marc tannins on crude protein degradability of some
    feedstuffs. Animal Science Review, 12: 58-59.
  36. ZERVAS, G. 1993. Effect of nutrition on the quality of animal origin products. A review, 13:57-77.
  37. ZERVAS, G. and PAPADOPOULOS, G. 1993. The bioavailability of magnesium from different types of calcined magnesites of Greek origin. Animal Production, 56: 351-358.
  38. ZERVAS, G., FEGEROS, K., MICHALOCHRISTAS, D., VASTARDIS, I. 1993. Nutritive evaluation of olive tree leaves for sheep. Animal Science Review, 39-55.
  39. FEGEROS, K., ZERVAS, G., APSOKARDOS, F., VASTARDIS, I. 1995. Nutritive evaluation of ammonia treated olive tree leaves for sheep. Small Ruminant Research, 17: 9-15.
  40. ZERVAS, G. 1993. Methods of mineral supplementation for grazing ruminants. FAO-CIHEAM-EC. Meeting on Sheep and Goat Nutrition, Thessaloniki, Greece, pp. 41.
  41. ZERVAS, G., PAPADOPOULOS, G., KOUROS, G., NIKOLAOU E., MANTZIOS, A. 1994. Estimation of plane of nutrition of grazing sheep during the mating season. Animal Science Review, 20: 21-37.
  42. PAPADOPOULOS, G., FEGEROS, K. and ZERVAS, G. 1994. Qualitative evaluation of feedstuffs and rations for fattening pigs in Greece. Agricultural University of Athens. pp. 1-18.
  43. FEGEROS, K., ZERVAS, G., STAMOULI, S., APOSTOLAKI, E. 1995. Nutritive value of dried citrus pulp and its effect on milk yield and milk composition of lactating ewes. Journal of Dairy Science, 78: 1116-1121.
  44. ZERVAS, G., FEGEROS, K., PAPADOPOULOS, G. 1995. Feeding system of sheep and goats in the mountain region of Korinthos. Small Ruminant Research, 21: 11-17.
  45. ZERVAS, G. 1995. Beef, sheep and goat production systems and extensification in Greece. In: Extensification of Beef and Sheep Production on Grassland: Proceedings of a workshop held in Paris November 22-24, 1995 (ed: M.G.Keane and A Pflimlin) Oc. Publ. No 2.
  46. ZERVAS, G., GOULAS, G., FEGEROS, K., NIKOKYRIS, P. 1996. Dietary evaluation of herbage grown under the olive trees in Amfissa area of Greece after conservation as silage or hay. Animal Science Review, 21: 43-54.
  47. ROGDAKIS, E., NIKOLAOU, E., MANTZIOS, A., KOUTSOTOLIS, K., PANOPOULOU, E., ZERVAS, G. 1996. Results from crossing Karagouniko and Boutsiko sheep breeds: I. Growth and carcass quality of lambs, 22: 5-12.
  48. HADJIGEORGIOY, I., PAPAVASILIOU, D. and ZERVAS, G. 1997. Quality products from extensive mixed farming systems. The case of Lesvos island in Greece. In: Livestock Farming Systems: 3rd International Symposium, Foulum, No 89, (ed. Sorensen) pp. 201-205.
  49. ZERVAS, G., FEGEROS, K., KOYTSOTOLIS, K., GOULAS, C. and MANTZIOS, A. 1998. Soyhulls as a replacement for maize in lactating ewe diets with or without dietary fat supplements. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 76:65-75.
  50. THEDOROPOULOS, G., ZERVAS, G., KOUTSOTOLIS. K., NIKOLAOU, E., KALOGIANIS, D. PETRACOS, G. 1998. The effect of dietary protein levels before turnout on subsequent fecal nematode egg output of grazing sheep in the Ioannina region of Greece. Res. Vet. Sci. 65: 269-271.
  51. ZERVAS, G. 1998. Quantifying and optimizing grazing regimes in Greek mountain systems. J. of Applied Ecology. 35 (6): 983 - 986.
  52. HADJIGEORGIOU, I., VALLERAND, F., TSIMPOUKAS, K. and ZERVAS, G. 1998. The socioeconomic of sheep and goat farming in Greece and the implications for future rural development. Proceedings of the 2nd Intern. Symposium on Livestock Production in the European LFS’s, Ed. J.P. Laker & J.A. Milne, December 1998, Bray, Ireland, pp. 17-23.
  53. ZERVAS, G., HADJIGEORGIOU, I., ZABELI, G., KOUTSOTOLIS, K., TZIALA, C. 1999. Evaluation of an intensive and an extensive fattening system of lambs in Greece. Livestock Production Science, 245-251.
  54. ZERVAS, G. ZARKADAS, L., KOUTSOTOLIS, K., GOULAS, C. and MANTZIOS, A. 1999. The effect of altering the hay: concentrate ratio and concentrate composition on the rumen fermentation of dry sheep and milk composition of lactating dairy ewes. Animal Science, 69: 637-645.
  55. DARDAMANI, K., HADJIGEORFIOU, I., ZERVAS, G. 2000. The effect of water availability on feed intake and digestion in sheep. Small Rum. Res., 37: 147-150.
  56. CHADIO, S.E., ZERVAS, G., KYRIAKOY, K., GOULAS, C. MENEGATOS J. 2000. Effects of recombinant somatotropin administration to lactating goats. Small Rum. Res., 35: 263-269.
  57. ZERVAS, G., KOUTSOTOLIS, K., GOULAS, C. and ZABELI, G. 2000. Performance of lactating dairy ewes fed only forages. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Livestock Production and Climatic Uncertainly in the Mediterranean. EAAP Publication No 94, pp. 171-174.
  58. ZERVAS, G., KOUTSOTOLIS, K. and ZABELI, G. 2000. Organic and conventional milk production form dairy ewes in Greece. Proceedings of the 5th Inter. Symposium on Livestock Farming Systems, Friburgh, Switzerland, EAAP Publication, No 98: 145-149.
  59. ZERVAS, G., DARDAMANI, K., APOSTOLAKI, H. 2000. Non-intensive dairy farming systems in Mediterranean basin: Trends and limitations. Proceedings of the joint EAAP-CIHEAM-FAO Symposium on Prospects for a Sustainable Dairy Sector in the Mediterranean. EAAP publication No. 99, pp.125-132.
  60. THEOTHOROPOULOS, G., THEOTHOROPOULOU, H., ZERVAS, G. and BARTZIOKAS, E. 2000. Nematode parasite control practices of sheep and goat farmers in the region of Tricala, Greece. Journal of Helminthology, 74: 89-93.
  61. THEOTHOROPOULOS, G., ZERVAS, G., KOUNELI, A., MARTINEZ-GONZALES, B., PETRAKOS, G., KOSTOPOULOS, J. 2000. Seasonal patterns of strongyle infections in grazing sheep under the traditional production system in the region of Tricala, Greece. Veterinary Parasitology, 87: 327-335.
  62. ZERVAS, G., RISSAKI, M., DELIGEORGIS, ST. 2001. Free choice consumption of mineral lick blocks by fattening lambs fed ad libitum alfalfa hay and concentrates with different trace mineral content. Livestock Production Science, 68: 251-258.
  63. PANOPOULOU, E., KOUTSOTOLIS, K., CHARISMIADOU, M., ZERVAS, G. 2001. The effect of feeding methods on carcass and adipose tissue characteristics of Boutsiko breed lambs. Animal Science Review, 28: 57-71.
  64. GOULAS, C., ZERVAS, G. and PAPADOPOULOS, G. 2001. The effect of animal fat on sheep's diet digestibility, degradability and rumen fermentation process. J. of Animal and Feed Sci., 10: 447-455.
  65. GOULAS, C., ZERVAS, G. and PAPADOPOULOS, G. 2001. The effect of fat on rumen fermentation of sheep. Animal Science Review, 28: 33-46.
  66. ZERVAS, G., LOULOUDIS, L., DIMOPOULOS, D. 2001. A comparative description of recent development in Greek livestock production systems; the case of sheep /goat, beef and dairy sectors. Proceedings of the European Workshop, Soto se Real, Spain, pp. 211-221.
  67. ZERVAS, G., 2001. Agricultural Characteristics – What is known? Greece's overview. PASTORAL: the agricultural, ecological and socio-economic importance of free-ranging livestock systems. Workshop of the Pastoral Project, Soto del Real, Madrid, Spain, 2001.
  68. VOUDOURI, Α., CHADIO, ST., ZERVAS, G., MENEGATOS, J., FERGUS, N., ARTHUR.J.R. 2001. Selenoenzyme activity in Selenium and Iodine deficient sheep. Proceedings of the 52nd Annual Meeting of the EAAP, Budapest, August 2001.
  69. GOUSIOS, J., ZERVAS, G., MARTINOS, N., PANAGAKIS, P. and FEGEROS, K., 2001. Animal farming activity in the mountain area of Messinia. Animal Science Rev. 25: 117-129.
  70. GOULAS, C., ZERVAS, G. and PAPADOPOULOS, G. 2002. Effect of fat and crude fiber on some blood parameters of sheep. Animal Science Review, 29: 55-66.
  71. WRIGHT, I., ZERVAS, G., LOULOUDIS, L. 2002. The development of sustainable farming systems and the challenges that face producers in the EU. In: Organic Meat and Milk from Ruminants (ed. I. Kyriazakis, G. Zervas). EAAP Publ. No 106, pp. 27-37.
  72. GOULAS, C., THEOTHOROPOULOS, G., NITAS, D., KARALAZOS, A., ZERVAS, G., HATZIMINAOGLOU, I. 2002. An organic mountainous sheep farming system in Greece. In: Organic Meat and Milk from Ruminants (eds I. Kyriazakis, G. Zervas). EAAP Publication No 106, pp. 211-214.
  73. GOULAS, C., ZERVAS, G. and PAPADOPOULOS, G. 2002. The effect of fat on sheep diets digestibility. Animal Science Review, 29: 17-25.
  74. VOUDOURI, A., CHADIO, ST., MENEGATOS, J. and ZERVAS, G. 2002. Basic biochemical elements of metabolism in selenium and /or iodine deficient sheep. Animal Science Review, 29: 39-53.
  75. PAPADOMICHELAKIS, G., KOUTSOTOLIS, K., ZABELI, G., ZERVAS, G., 2002. The effect of lactating dairy ewes diet supplementation with ALIMET (liquid methionine) on milk yield and milk composition. Ital. J. Anim. Sci. vol. 1, 301-305
  76. CHADIO, S.E., MENEGATOS, J., ZERVAS, G., GOULAS, C., DELIGEORGIS, S., KALOGIANIS, D., 2002. Pituitary responsiveness to gonadotropin and thyrotropin releasing hormones in goats treated with recombinant bovine somatotropin. Small Ruminant Research, 46:149-157.
  77. GOULAS, C., ZERVAS, G. and PAPADOPOULOS, G. 2002. Effect of dietary animal fat and methionine on dairy ewes milk yield and milk composition. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 105: 43-54.
  78. ZERVAS, G., DARDAMANI, K. and APOSTOLAKI, H. 2003. Non-intensive dairy farming systems in Mediterranean basin: Trends and limitations. EAAP Publication No 99, pp. 125-132 (eds. M. Djemali and M. Guellouz).
  79. POLITIS, I., VOUDOURI, A., BIZELIS, I. and ZERVAS, G. 2003. The effect of various vitamin E derivatives on the urokinase-plasminogen activator system of ovine macrophages and neutrophils. Br. J. Nutrition, 89: 259-265.
  80. VOUDOURI, A., ZERVAS, G., CHADIO, S., MENEGATOS, J., NICOLS, F., ARTHUR, J. 2003. Selenium and iodine deficiencies in sheep. Biological Trace Element Research, 95: 1-12.
  81. GIBON, A. MIHINA, S., ZERVAS, G.,BOYAZOGLU, J., MAKI-HOKKONEN, J. and ZLALIC, M. 2003. Livestock Farming Systems diversity and challenges for sustainable livestock development in selected countries in Central and Eastern Countries. EAAP Technical Series Publications, Wageningen Pers, No 3, pp. 1-22
  82. ZERVAS, G., KARALAZOS, A., FEGEROS, K., DOTAS, D., SAMOUCHOS, M. 2003. Study on the use of the natural resources of Greece in relation to livestock requirements and the effective operation of feed mllers. Animal Science Review, 28, 61-83.
  83. GOULAS, C., PAPOUTSI-KOSTOPOULOU, XYPOLEAS, I., ZERVAS, G. 2003. A comparative evaluation of maize and sorghum-cow pea silage in sheep. Geotechnical Scientific Issues, Vol. 14 (4): 4-10.
  84. FOKAS, P., ZERVAS, G., FEGEROS, K., ZOIOPOULOS, P. 2004. Assessment of Pb retention and nutrient utilization in growing pigs fed diet with added clinoptilolite. Anim. Feed Sci. Techn. (In Press).
  85. PANAGAKIS, P., DELIGEORGIS, S., ZERVAS, G., LALIOTIS, G. 2004. Effect of three different floor types on the posture behavior of semi-intensively reared Boutsiko breed dairy ewes. Small Rum. Res. (In Press).
  86. ZERVAS, G. and SAMOUCHOS, M. 2004. Efficiency of land and feed resources utilization by small ruminants in the mountainous area of Ioannina. EAAP Publication, No 112 (ed. A. Georgoudis) (In Press).
  87. ZERVAS, G. and SAMOUCHOS, M. 2004. Sheep and goat farming practices in a hilly and mountainous area of South Greece (Messinia). 6th International Symposium of Livestock Farming Systems. Benevento, Italy, EAAP Publication (ed. R. Roubino).
  88. NARDONE, A., ZERVAS, G., RONCHI, B. 2004. Sustainability of Small Ruminant Organic Systems of Production. World Congress on Animal Production, Porto Alegre, Brazil. Livestock Production Science [In Press]