Patent ID: 8409642

Claim:
A method for enhancing plant fiber digestion in an animal, said method comprising feeding to said animal an effective amount of a composition comprising a biologically pure culture of a ferulate esterase producing Lactobacillus strain and feed plant material, 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 LB1154, deposited as Patent Deposit NRRL B-30865 , Lactobacillus buchneri , strain LN4888, deposited as Patent Deposit NRRL B-30866, Lactobacillus reuteri , strain LR4933, deposited as Patent Deposit NRRL B-30867 , Lactobacillus crispatus , strain LI2127, deposited as Patent Deposit NRRL B-30868 , Lactobacillus crispatus , strain LI2350, deposited as Patent Deposit NRRL B-30869 , Lactobacillus crispatus , strain LI2366, deposited as Patent Deposit NRRL B-30870, and mixtures thereof, wherein said composition comprises 10 1 to 10 10 viable organisms of said Lactobacillus strain per gram of said feed plant material.