The 2.5 inulin and 5.0 inulin diets were prepared to incorporate inulin (PREBIOFEED 88; Warcoing, Belgium) to ensure supplementation levels of 2.5 g kg−1 and 5.0 g kg−1 , respectively. The 5.0 JA and 10.0 JA diets were prepared to incorporate JA at 5.0 g kg−1 and 10.0 g kg−1 , respectively, which were equal to inulin levels of 2.5 g kg−1 and 5.0 g kg−1 , respectively.
Table 2 shows the basal dietary ingredients and the proximate composition (moisture, crude protein, crude fat, and ash content) of the experimental diets as determined following standard AOAC methods (1990). All test ingredients were obtained from animal feedstuff companies. Before formulating the feed, all feed ingredients were analyzed to determine gross composition (moisture, crude protein, crude lipid, crude fiber, and ash) according to AOAC methods (1990). All experimental diets were produced using a hammer grinder, mixer, and extruder (Paktongchai Pasusat, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand). The dry ingredients were ground using a grinder and mixed using a ribbon screw mixer (22 rpm). The floating pellet was produced using a single screw extruder at an extruding temperature of 120–160◦C. All experimental diets were stored at room temperature until use