The effect of L-Dopa on growth performance, cholesterol profile and blood metabolites was investigated in a 56-day experiment using 300 one-day old Nera Black pullet chicks that were fed diets supplemented with L-Dopa at 0.0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4% dietary levels respectively in a completely randomized design. Feed Intake, Body Weight Gain and Feed Conversion Ratio were monitored using standard procedures. Blood (5 mL) was sampled from two birds per replicate at the end of the feeding trial to determine serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein and blood parameters using standard procedures. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at ?0.05. The Initial weight, final weight, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio did not differ significantly (P>0.05) in the birds fed diets containing graded levels of L-Dopa.
It was observed, however, that the feed intake of pullets fed 0.3% L-Dopa was significantly (P>0.05) higher than that of birds fed 0.0% L-Dopa but statistically similar to other diets. Monocyte counts of birds fed 0.1% and 0.2% L-Dopa were significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of birds fed 0.0% L-Dopa and 0.4% L-Dopa but all were similar to that of birds fed 0.1% L-Dopa diet. No significant difference was observed in the cholesterol profile and haematological parameters of the birds fed pullet starter diets with L-Dopa inclusions except the Basophils (103 µL) where pullets fed 0.1% L-Dopa inclusion was significantly higher than those fed 0.4% L-Dopa but similar to other diets. Although, L-Dopa up to 0.4% inclusion in its pure state did not significantly affect performance, haematology and cholesterol because of the reproduction stage but had no detrimental effects on pullet chicks