Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed on the modification of terms of authorisation of the micro-organism preparation of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis (BioPlus 2B) authorised as a feed additive in accordance with Council Directive 70/524/EEC. Compatibility with the coccidiostat maduramicin ammonium

The European Food Safety Authority received a request to assess the compatibility of the micro-organism product BioPlus 2B (Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis) with the coccidiostat maduramicin ammonium when mixed in turkey feed. In a previous opinion, the FEEDAP Panel suggested that an in vivo study able to demonstrate the presence and viability of both Bacillus strains in the gut of the target animals fed a diet containing maduramicin (5 mg kg-1) would be necessary to conclude on the compatibility of the two additives. Such an in vivo study has now been performed. An in vivo trial was conducted with 1005 one-day old turkeys allocated to three groups: a control group, a group supplemented with BioPlus 2B, and a group supplemented with both BioPlus 2B and the coccidiostat. The results showed a significant (P<0.05) increase in bodyweight at slaughter of both BioPlus 2B supplemented groups compared to the control group. The other parameters (feed intake, feed conversion and mortality) were similar in all groups. Supplementation with maduramicin ammonium did not affect the caecal bacilli counts in the BioPlus 2B supplemented groups (1.37 x 105 vs. 1.59 x 105 CFU g-1) which had significantly higher values than the unsupplemented control (3.03 x 103 CFU g-1). The coccidiostat has thereby not influenced the efficacy of BioPlus 2B or the amount of caecal viable spores. BioPlus 2B can therefore be considered as compatible with the coccidiostat maduramicin ammonium.