Variety Overview
End-use group: Six-row feed, Hybrid
Market options: Livestock Feed
Soil preference: Suitable for all soil types and performs well even on marginal land
Regional positioning: Performs well in all regions
Sowing rate: Approx 200 seeds/m2 in good conditions. Up to 250 seeds/m2 in grass weed situations
Key features: SY KESTREL is the first of the new Hyvido Neo hybrid barley varieties. Now recommended in the 2026/27 AHDB recommended list. Broad spectrum viral protection brings built in resistance against the 3 major serotypes of BYDV as well as tolerance to WDV and is a significant benefit to growers
Key Performance Statistics
The below data is taken from the AHDB Recommended List 2026/27.
Yield
Untreated Yield* | Treated Yield* | Eastern Yield | Western Yield | Northern Yield | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SY KESTREL | 84 | 103 | 102 | [104] | 104 |
Yields shown are expressed as a percentage of control means
Grain quality
Specific Weight (kg/hl) | Screenings (% through 2.25mm) | Screenings (% through 2.5mm) | |
|---|---|---|---|
SY KESTREL | 69.1 | 1.4 | 4.5 |
Disease profile
Mildew (1-9) | Brown rust (1-9) | Rhynchosporium (1-9) | Net blotch (1-9) | BaYMV | BYDV | WDV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SY KESTREL | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | R | Resistant | Tolerant |
Agronomic features
Resistance to lodging with PGR (1-9) | Straw height without PGR (cm) | Straw height with PGR (cm) | Ripening (days +/- Orwell, -ve = earlier) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
SY KESTREL | 7 | 115 | 106 | -1 |
Breeding Insight
SY KESTREL is the first of the new Hyvido Neo hybrid barley varieties. Broad spectrum viral protection brings built in resistance against the 3 major serotypes of BYDV as well as tolerance to WDV and is a significant benefit to growers.
Mark Shaw, Hybrid Barley Portfolio Manager