Efficacy of a feed additive consisting of Enterococcus lactis NCIMB 11181 (Lactiferm®) for chickens for fattening or reared for laying, other poultry species for fattening or reared for laying and ornamental birds (Chr. Hansen A/S)

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the efficacy of Lactiferm®, a preparation containing viable cells of Enterococcus lactis NCIMB 11181, as a zootechnical feed additive (functional group: gut flora stabilisers). The additive is intended to be used in the feed (3 × 10¹⁰ CFU/kg complete feed) and water for drinking (1.5 × 10¹⁰ CFU/L) for chickens for fattening or reared for laying, other poultry species for fattening or reared for laying and ornamental birds. In a previous assessment, the FEEDAP Panel concluded that the additive is safe for the target species, consumers and the environment but could not conclude on its efficacy because only two out of the six trials submitted showed significant and positive effects on the zootechnical performance of chickens for fattening. The applicant provided two published studies, one pooled analysis of the data from two previously assessed trials and two long-term trials in chickens for fattening to address the data gaps in the efficacy assessment. Based on the results of the trials in the previous and current applications, the FEEDAP Panel concluded that Lactiferm® has the potential to be efficacious when supplemented either in the feed or water of chickens for fattening, and the conclusion was extended to chickens reared for laying and extrapolated to other poultry for fattening and reared for laying and ornamental birds.