Spring malting barley now launched into feed market

A spring barley variety that combines high quality with consistent yields is being launched to feed barley growers.

SY Splendor, from Syngenta, was originally bred for the malting market. Although it was withdrawn from malting tests, it still offers useful features that could appeal to feed barley growers, says Syngenta marketing manager Kathryn Hamlen.

Uppermost among these traits are its consistent treated yield of 102% of control varieties across all regions on the 2022 AHDB spring barley Recommended List, says Mrs Hamlen. Splendor also has a high specific weight of over 68 kg/hl.

But the variety offers other characteristics useful in certain grass weed situations. “Spring cropping is a well-known way of reducing grass weed populations because it gives growers more time to remove an extra flush of weeds before planting.”

On top of this, spring barley is a competitive crop, which means it has more effect in suppressing grass weeds. But the other desirable traits of Splendor are its vigorous growth habit and stiff straw with good brackling resistance, says Mrs Hamlen.

“Early vigorous growth helps a variety to better compete against grass weeds from the beginning of the season – allowing good plant establishment before the grass weeds get a chance to compete.”

Stable characteristic

Stiff straw helps later in the season if grass weed populations are higher – and helps the crop better withstand grass weeds pulling it down, explains Mrs Hamlen.

“Meanwhile, specific weight is a stable characteristic, which means if you choose a variety that starts with a high specific weight, it will help to mitigate against the competitive effects that grass weeds have for reducing crop grain-filling. 

“It is precisely because SY Splendor was originally developed as a malting variety that it has such a good specific weight,” says Mrs Hamlen. 

The feed sector currently accounts for about 20% of the UK spring barley market, she adds.