Inoculum concentration and incubation time are important factors in ensuring sufficient viable cell count in the fermented
product (Khosravi-Darani, Taheri, & Ahmad, 2015; Lourens-Hattingh & Viljoen, 2001). Viable cell count increased significantly (P 0.01) with increasing inoculum concentration and incubation time (Fig. 4). However, the count increased initially with increasing temperature upto 40 C then it decreased. Optimal temperature for yogurt fermentation with standard cultures is usually 43 C; however, lower temperatures of about 37 C are optimum for growth of probiotic strains (Shortt, 1999).