L. plantarum CR1T5 was kindly supported by Dr. Saowanit
Tongpim, (Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Khon
Kaen University). The bacterial suspension content was approximately
4.9 109 cfu g1. The administration of L. plantarum
(108 cfu g1) in this study was modified from the work of Giri,
Sukumaran [21]. The number of L. plantarum in each diet was
counted by spread plating on tryptone soya agar (TSA) agar.
L. plantarum diets were daily prepared as described by Irianto and
Austin [22]. Briefly, L. plantarum suspension was adjusted to a
concentration of 109 cfu ml1 in 1 ml of 0.09% normal saline solution
(NSS). It was then mixed thoroughly with a 10 g feed of Diet 1
(Control) to obtain dose of 108 cfu g1 for Diet 3. Another 1 ml
bacterial suspension (109 cfu ml1)was mixed thoroughly with 10 g
feed of Diet 2 (2 g kg1LMWA) to form Diet 4. Both Diet 1 and Diet 2
had the same volume of 0.09% NSS.