Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of Lactobacillus brevis (DSMZ 21982) as a silage additive for all species

The strain of Lactobacillus brevis under application is intended for use as a technological additive to improve the ensiling process at a proposed dose of 1×10 8 to 1×10 9 CFU/kg fresh material. The bacterial species L. brevis is considered by EFSA to be suitable for the Qualified Presumption of Safety approach. Therefore, the strain does not require any specific demonstration of safety other than confirming the absence of any determinants of resistance to antibiotics of human and veterinary clinical significance. 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. Given the lack of information and its proteinaceous nature, the active agent should be considered as a potential skin and respiratory sensitiser. 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 (19 to 52 %) with differing water‐soluble carbohydrate content. In each case, replicate silos containing treated forage were compared to silos containing the same untreated forage. The results showed that the additive has the potential to improve the production of silage from forages by increasing acetic acid production resulting in an extended aerobic stability of the treated silage.