EVALUATING THE MICROSCOPIC FECAL TECHNIQUE FOR ESTIMATING HARD MAST IN TURKEY DIETS

Wild and domestic dark turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) were fed experime ntal diets containing acorn (Quercus gambelli), ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) seed, grasses, forbs, and arthropods. In fecal estimates of diet composition, acorn and ponderosa pine seed were underestimated a nd grass was overestimated. Regression of acorn and pine seed in exper imental diets with microscopic fecal estimates indicated significant n onlinear relationships. Based on regression analyses, corrected acorn and pine seed composition in diets did not differ from experimental di ets. Corrected estimates for grass were slightly overestimated. Correc ted estimates for forbs and arthropods were slightly underestimated. C orrected diet estimates had smaller standard errors than microscopic f ecal estimates.