Safflower (\u3ci\u3eCarthamus tintorius\u3c/i\u3e): A Promising Forage Crop for Semi-Arid Regions

The yield, quality, preservation and intake of safflower hay were determined in two successive years - 1998 and 1999. Field experiments carried out at the Bet Dagan experimental station on the coastal plain of Israel under rain-fed conditions. A spineless variety was tested under three sowing dates. Yield decreased and quality improved as the sowing date receded from November 12 to February 3. Respective yields, IVDMD and CP content were: 22 and 8 ton DM/ha, 48.9% and 65.5% , 10.0% and 14.6%. Safflower at 290, 410 and 770 g/kg DM was ensiled in 1.5-l anaerobic glass jars with or without Lactobacillus plantarum applied at 106 cfu/g. Good-quality silages were obtained at 290 and 410 g/kg DM. The pH of the inoculated silages was 3.9-4.0 as compared to 4.7 in the control silages; the former contained more lactic acid than the controls. All silages were stable upon aerobic exposure. Inoculation with Lactobacillus plantarum improved the ensiling fermentation, and these silages, too, were stable upon aerobic exposure. Feeding experiments with heifers were conducted with safflower hay. The intake and performance of heifers fed with 25 or 50% safflower hay (DM basis) did not differ from those animals fed a control diet (no safflower in diet)