Lactobacillus plantarum (ATCC PTSA-6139) = Lactobacillus plantarum 24011

What it is. Lactobacillus plantarum (ATCC PTSA-6139) is a lactic acid bacterium used as a technological additive for silage. It is produced by fermentation and supplied as a microbial culture intended to inoculate forage.

What it is for. This additive belongs to the functional group of silage additives (1k) and aims to promote rapid and controlled lactic fermentation during forage ensiling. It is generally used at harvest time, by direct inoculation onto the material to be ensiled, to improve preservation and aerobic stability of the silage. Its use concerns the production of conserved forage intended for animal feeding, across all species according to the EU register. L. plantarum strains are also studied as probiotics in animal feeding, notably in calves and aquaculture, but these uses fall under a different functional category.

Points to watch. The regulatory use of this strain is limited to the functional group of silage additives; no numerical inclusion level is provided in the available official documentation. The attached studies concern other strains and uses (probiotic supplementation in calves, tilapia feeding) and do not serve as a reference for dosing as a silage additive. The stability and efficacy of the inoculant may vary according to storage conditions and the nature of the treated forage.