Nutritional aspects and potential uses of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) in livestock

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is used in many countries as a grain, forage or silage crop for many animals, including cattle, sheep and goats. The aim of this review is to reveal the potential benefits of safflower in animal nutrition. The nutritional properties of safflower forage, hay, silage, seed and cake are described here in order to increase knowledge on the chemical composition, in vitro organic matter digestibility, gross energy and nutritive value of the plant during growth, of the crop submitted to different forage preservation methods (wilting, drying and ensiling) and of the seed, to allow its use in animal nutrition as an alternative fibre and protein source, and as a source of bioactive components (fatty acids and phenolic compounds, including serotonins, flavonoids and lignans).