Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of Lactobacillus brevis (DSM 12835) as a silage additive for all species

Lactobacillus brevis is a technological additive intended to improve the ensiling process at a proposed dose of 1.0 x 10(8) CFU/kg fresh material. The bacterial species L. brevis is considered by the European Food Safety Authority to be suitable for the Qualified Presumption of Safety approach. As the identity of the strain has been clearly established and as no antibiotic resistance was detected, the use of the strain in the production of silage is considered safe for livestock species, consumers of products from animals fed the treated silage and for the environment. Evidence of a lack of irritancy was provided for one formulation of the additive. It is unlikely that considering the nature of the alternative food grade excipients, different results would be obtained for other formulations containing this strain of L. brevis. However, due to the lack of information and its proteinaceous nature, the active agent has the potential to be a skin/respiratory sensitizer. Five studies with laboratory- scale silos are described, each lasting at least 90 days, made using samples of forage covering a range of dry matter content (28 to 70 %) with differing water-soluble carbohydrate content. In each case, replicate silos containing treated forage were compared to identical silos containing the same untreated forage and, after opening, the period before deterioration became evident was measured. The results showed that the additive containing this specific strain of L. brevis has the potential to improve the production of silage from all forages by increasing acetic acid production resulting in an extended aerobic stability of the treated silage. (C) European Food Safety Authority, 2011