Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of <em>Lactobacillus brevis</em> (DSM 23231), <em>Lactobacillus buchneri</em> (DSM 22501), <em>Lactobacillus buchneri</em> (NCIMB 40788&#x97;CNCM I-4323), <em>Lactobacillus buchneri</em> (ATCC PTA-6138) and <em>Lactobacillus buchneri</em> (ATCC PTA-2494) as silage additives for all species

One strain of Lactobacillus brevis and four strains of Lactobacillus buchneri are each intended to improve ensiling at proposed doses ranging from 5 × 107 to 1 × 108 CFU/kg fresh material. Both bacterial species are considered by EFSA to be suitable for the Qualified Presumption of Safety approach to safety assessment. As the identity of all strains was clearly established and as no antibiotic resistance of concern was detected, the use of these strains in silage production is presumed safe for livestock species, consumers of products from animals and the environment. Given the proteinaceous nature of the active agents and the high dusting potential of the products tested, the FEEDAP Panel considers it prudent to treat these additives as skin and respiratory sensitisers. They are also considered irritants. The efficacy of L. brevis to improve the preservation of nutritive value or increase the aerobic stability of silage was not demonstrated.. One strain of L. buchneri has the potential to improve the production of silage from easy, moderately difficult and difficult to ensile materials by reducing the pH and ammonia nitrogen and by increasing the preservation of dry matter. The remaining three strains of L. buchneri showed the potential to improve the aerobic stability, one in all forages and two in easy to ensile materials