This study was carried out to investigate the effect of barley straw treated with molasses or used in different physical forms on the digestibility of nutrients and dry matter intake, body weight gain and feed efficiency in sheep. According to this, the ration containing grinded barley straw without molasses formed Group I, the ration containing grinded barley straw treated with molasses formed Group II and the ration containing barley straw which was not grinded but treated with molasses formed Group III. In the study, a total number of 18 Akkaraman sheep at the age of 9-10 months, allocating 6 sheep in each group were used.

The digestibilities of dry matter, ash (P<0.05), organic matter, crude fiber, crude protein, ether extract and nitrogen free extract (P>0.05) were determined to be higher in Group II and Group III when compared with Group I. The difference between Group II and Group III was not found to be statistically significant (P>0.05).

Daily feed intake (P>0.05), daily body weight gain and feed efficiency (P<0.05) rates of sheep were also found to be higher in Group II and Group III when compared with Group I. No statistically significant difference was found between Group II and Group III in terms of feedlot performance as was in the digestibility of nutrients (P>0.05).