Scientific Opinion on the efficacy of Lactobacillus plantarum (NCIMB 30238) and Pediococcus pentosaceus (NCIMB 30237) as silage additives

In 2012, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed issued an opinion on the safety and efficacy of 18 strains of Lactobacillus plantarum and of six strains of Pediococcus spp. In those instances the FEEDAP Panel concluded that the strains were safe for target animals, consumers of animal products, users of the additive and the environment when used for the purpose described. In both cases the efficacy of a Lactobacillus plantarum strain and a Pediococcus pentosaceus strain was tested in the presence of the other strain in 8:2 ratio by bacterial count. Although the mixture of the strains showed a potential to improve the production of silage from a similar range of forage species by reducing the pH, the consequences of a more rapid pH reduction for the preservation of nutrients were not shown. The Commission has given the possibility to the applicants to submit complementary information to allow the Panel to reach conclusions on the efficacy of these strains. The further data provided are the subject of the current opinion. In six studies made using forage samples of differing water-soluble carbohydrate content and representing material from the range easy, moderately difficult and difficult to ensile, the strains of P. pentosaceus and L. plantarum used in a mixture with the ratio of 8:2 and delivering a minimum combined dose of 1 x 108 CFU/kg forage, show some potential to improve the preservation of nutrients in silage prepared from easy, moderately difficult and difficult to ensile material.