**3. Lactobacilli in feed industry**

Many potential strains of *Lactobacilli* having probiotic effect are applied in feed production for poultry and other animals for beneficial purposes. There is no case of foodborne illness has been reported by ingestion of feed containing *Lactobacilli* [12]. In agricultural practice, *Lactobacilli* have long been applied for the preservation of grass or maize in the form of fodder [87] where these bacteria accelerate the rate of decline in pH while protecting plant carbohydrates through homofermentation and also conserving proteins from plants by reducing proteolysis and by deamination [88–91]. According to literature the species of *Lactobacillus* **Lb. casei**, *Lb. buchneri* [92], *Lb. paracasei subsp. paracasei* [93], *Lb. plantarum* [94], *Lb. buchneri*, *Lb. fermentum* [95] and *Lb. diolivorans* sp. nov. [96] have been applied in silage production. Probiotic *Lactobacilli* are used as an alternative to antibiotics in animal feed because of the safety concerns of antibiotics [97]. Probiotic microbes in animal feed should be live and have zootechnical properties to convert feed and increase weight gain [98]. The supplementation of probiotics has been suggested for handling numerous stress conditions or for preventing diseases in several animal species [17]. The studies which have highlighted the value of lactobacilli


**Table 3.**

*Health promoting properties of lactobacilli for animal.*

#### *Lactobacilli: Application in Food Industry DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.106856*

for various animal species are tabularized herein (**Table 3**). Probiotic treatment is becoming progressively popular in veterinary medicine, particularly for pets.

Some feed additives of European origin such as BIACTONs N1 12 for piglets contain *Lb. farciminis* [109]; PROVITA LEs N1 E1706 for calves & piglets contain *Lb. rhamnosus* DSM 7133 and *Enterococcus faecium* DSM 7134 [109]; CECT4 529 N123 feed for laying hens hold *Lb. acidophilus* [110] and *Lb. acidophilus* was added to the cats and dogs feed [111]. Other Non-European feed additives such as Silage (PRO-STOREs USA) have *Lb. casei*; *Lb. plantarum*; *Lb. brevis* and other lactic acid bacteria and fungi [112]. HP BIOs a feed for cows in USA comprised of *Lb. fermentum*; *Lb. acidophilus*; *Lb. plantarum*; *Lb. casei*; and lactic acid bacteria [112]. Another feed additive named E-BIOTICTM equine in USA contained *Lb. lactic*; *Lb. acidophilus*; *Lb. plantarum* and other LAB [113].
