A ruminant-palatable barley cultivar, Soman (Hordeum vulgare L.), with early maturing, high silage quality and high yield, was developed from the cross between SB79124〔Bengei-Ginomeo-Buheung-Morsen-Hagane/Gangbori〕and SB77189 〔Samjug/Riso82//Olbori〕in 1994. A promising line “SB941067-B-B-B-45” was selected in 1998. It performed well in the preliminary and advanced yield trials for two years from 2002 to 2003. The line was designated ‘Suwon 404’ through the regional yield trials (RYT) at six sites for three years from 2004 to 2006. Its growth habit was winter type (Ⅲ) with greenish leaves, medium culm and compact density of spike setting. Its heading date and early dough stage were Apr. 23 and May 26 respectively, which were 6 days earlier than those of check cultivar ‘Olbori’. ‘Soman’ showed weaker winter hardiness, but better resistance to lodging, shattering, and BaYMV (Barley yellow mosaic virus) than those of check cultivar ‘Sunwoo’. It showed 1.7% higher TDN content on whole-crop-silage than that of check cultivar ‘Sunwoo’. Its average of forage yield in regional yield trials was 10.31 MT/ha, which was 4% higher than that of the check cultivar.