Proposed Application Rate Research Articles

Safety and efficacy of Lactobacillusplantarum DSM29024 as a silage additive for all animal species.

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA FEEDAP Panel (EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of a strain of Lactobacillus plantarum when used as a technological additive intended to improve the ensiling process at a minimum proposed dose of 5.0 × 107 colony‐forming units (CFU)/kg fresh material. The bacterial species L. plantarum is considered by EFSA to be suitable for the qualified presumption of safety approach to safety assessment. As the identity of the strain has been clearly established and as no antibiotic resistance of concern was detected, the use of the strain as a silage additive is considered safe for livestock species, for consumers of products from animals fed the treated silage and for the environment. In the absence of data, no conclusion can be drawn on the skin and eye irritancy or skin sensitisation of the additive. The additive should be considered as a potential respiratory sensitiser. Seven studies with laboratory‐scale silos were made using samples of forage of differing dry matter and water‐soluble carbohydrate content. In each case, replicate silos containing treated forage were compared with identical silos containing the same but untreated forage. The results showed that the additive has the potential to improve the production of silage from easy and moderately difficult to ensile forage species by reducing the pH and increasing lactic acid concentration and protein preservation. This was shown at the proposed application rate of 5 × 107 CFU/kg forage.

Safety and efficacy of Lactobacillusrhamnosus DSM29226 as a silage additive for all animal species.

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of a strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus when used as a technological additive intended to improve ensiling at a proposed application rate of 5.0 × 107 colony‐forming units (CFU)/kg fresh material. The bacterial species L. rhamnosus is considered by EFSA to be suitable for the qualified presumption of safety approach to safety assessment. As the identity of the strain has been clearly established and as no antibiotic resistance of concern was detected, the use of the strain as a silage additive is considered safe for livestock species, for consumers of products from animals fed the treated silage and for the environment. In the absence of data, no conclusion can be drawn on the skin and eye irritancy or skin sensitisation of the additive. The additive should be considered as a potential respiratory sensitiser. Seven studies with laboratory‐scale silos were made using samples of forage of differing dry matter and water‐soluble carbohydrate content. In each case, replicate silos containing treated forage were compared with identical silos containing the same but untreated forage. The results showed that the additive has the potential to improve the production of silage from easy and moderately difficult to ensile forage species by reducing dry matter loss and enhancing protein preservation. This was shown at the proposed application rate of 5 × 107 CFU/kg forage.

Safety and efficacy of Lactobacillus brevis NCIMB 42149 as a silage additive for all animal species

Lactobacillus brevis is a technological additive intended to improve the ensiling process at a minimum proposed dose of 1 × 108 colony-forming units (CFU)/kg fresh material. The species L. brevis is considered by EFSA to be suitable for the qualified presumption of safety approach to safety assessment and not to require specific demonstration of safety other than the susceptibility to antibiotics of human and veterinary significance. Although identity was established, the strain was found resistant to ampicillin and clindamycin and may pose a risk for the spread of genes coding for resistance to these antibiotics. Therefore, the use of this strain as a silage additive is not considered safe for target animals, and consumers of products from animals fed the treated silage. In the absence of data, no conclusion can be drawn on the skin and eye irritancy or skin sensitisation of the additive. The additive should be considered as a potential respiratory sensitiser. Although L. brevis is ubiquitous in the environment, due to its antibiotic resistance, the FEEDAP Panel cannot conclude on the extent of the risk of horizontal gene transfer to other bacteria in the environment. Six studies with laboratory-scale silos were made using forage of differing water-soluble carbohydrate content. Replicate silos containing forages treated at the proposed application rate were compared to identical silos containing the same but untreated forage. After opening and exposure to air, an increase of 3°C over ambient was taken to indicate aerobic deterioration. The additive showed a potential to significantly improve the aerobic stability of silage produced from easy, moderately difficult and difficult to ensile forage at a minimum application rate of 1 × 108 CFU/kg plant material.

Scientific Opinion on the efficacy of Lactobacillus brevis (DSM 23231) as a silage additive for all animal species

In 2013 the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) issued an opinion on the safety and efficacy of a strain of Lactobacillus brevis and four strains of Lactobacillus buchneri when used as feed additives for the production of silage. In those instances the Panel concluded that the strains were safe for target animals, consumers of animal products, users of the additive and the environment. However, owing to limited evidence of a beneficial effect on the ensiling process, the FEEDAP Panel was unable to draw conclusions on the efficacy of the L. brevis strain. The Commission has given the applicant the option of submitting additional information to allow the Panel reaching conclusions on the efficacy of this strain. The applicant has provided complementary information which is the subject of the current opinion. The results from the original submission and those newly submitted showed that the L. brevis strain has some potential to improve the production of silage from moderately difficult and difficult to ensile materials and to reduce the numbers of clostridia at the proposed application rate of 5 × 107 CFU/kg forage. No effect on aerobic stability was demonstrated.