Ferulate esterase-producing bacterial strain for treating pre-ensiled plant material

A method for treating pre-ensiled plant material to enhance the digestibility of a resulting silage, which comprises adding to said pre-ensiled plant material a composition comprising:

• a biologically pure culture of a ferulate esterase producing Lactobacillus strain and a suitable carrier, wherein said Lactobacillus strain is selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus buchneri, strain LN4017, deposited as Patent Deposit No. PTA-6138, Lactobacillus plantarum, strain LP678, deposited as Patent Deposit No. PTA-6134, Lactobacillus plantarum, strain LP3710, deposited as Patent Deposit No. PTA-6136, Lactobacillus plantarum, strain LP3779, deposited as Patent Deposit No. PTA-6137, Lactobacillus plantarum, strain LP7109, deposited as Patent Deposit No. PTA-6139, Lactobacillus brevis, strain L81154, deposited as Patent Deposit NRRL 8-30865, Lactobacillus buchneri, strain LN4888, deposited as Patent Deposit NRRL 8-30866, Lactobacillus rueteri, strain LR4933, deposited as Patent Deposit NRRL 8-30867, Lactobacillus crispatus, strain L12127, deposited as Patent Deposit NRRL 8-30868, Lactobacillus crispatus, strain L12350, deposited as Patent Deposit NRRL 8-30869, Lactobacillus crispatus, strain L12366, deposited as Patent Deposit NRRL 8-30870, and mixtures thereof;
• and
• wherein said composition comprises from 101 to 1010 viable organisms of said Lactobacillus strain per gram of the pre-ensiled plant material.