The volatile organic compounds and palatability of mixed ensilage of marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) crop residues.

With increasing acreage of cash crops, the use of their by-products as supplements for livestock feed becomes an important factor. Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) account for more than half of the world's loose flower production.

Enriching the nutritive value of marigold (Tagetes erecta L) crop residues as a ruminant feed by lactic acid bacteria during ensilage.

Background: Marigold (Tagetes erecta L) accounts for over half of the world's loose flower production, and marigold crop residue (MCR) are abundantly available and should be used as a forage. In this study, MCR from the last commercial flower pickings was ensilaged with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and the shift in their volatile organic compounds (VOCs) profiles was monitored. Samples were collected at 6 different times during ensilage (3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 30 days) to determine and quantify the VOCs changes using a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) technique and gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS).