The Effects of Propionic Acid Level in Feed on the Growth Performance and Salmonella Sp. Characteristics of Kampong Chickens

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of propionic acid supplementation in feed for reducing Salmonella sp. concentration and enhancing the growth performance of Kampong chickens. The research was conducted in Kefamenanu, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia, over five months (July to November 2024). The study used 250 six-week-old Kampong chickens. These chickens were randomly assigned to five treatment groups, each with five replicates, based on a completely randomized design. The treatment feeds consisted of: T0 (control), T1 (T0 + 0.20% propionic acid), T2 (T0 + 0.40% propionic acid), T3 (T0 + 0.60% propionic acid), and T4 (T0 + 0.80% propionic acid). The results indicated that groups T3 and T2 exhibited the highest body weights (1,775.00±4.00 g/bird/14 weeks and 1,767.40±9.01 g/bird/14 weeks, respectively), with corresponding body weight gains of 105.63±0.25 g/bird/week and 104.37±0.40 g/bird/week. These values were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of the other treatment groups. Conversely, group T0 showed the lowest body weight (1,671.40±5.57 g/bird/14 weeks) and body weight gain (1,377.02±5.56 g/bird/14 weeks). Feed consumption was comparable across all groups, ranging from 574.63±0.87 g/bird/week (T1) to 578.14±1.12 g/bird/week (T4). However, group T0 demonstrated a significantly higher feed conversion ratio (5.86±0.18, P<0.05) than the other groups. Furthermore, group T3 exhibited the highest carcass weight (1,100.46±2.26 g/bird or 62.00±0.06%). Salmonella sp. counts were highest in group T0 (325 x 10² CFU/mL), while probiotic bacterial populations were highest in group T3 (662844 x 10⁹ CFU/mL). In conclusion, supplementing feed with 0.60% propionic acid effectively reduced Salmonella sp. populations and improved the growth performance of Kampong chickens.