Main Crop
Swedes
They are an excellent choice for producing a large dry matter yield that can be fed to sheep, dairy, and beef cattle. With their high dry matter, they are particularly winter hardy making them ideal for post-Christmas grazing. They can grow on a range of different soils with a pH of 6.5 targeted. In most cases, they are precision sown but can be broadcast however this will lead to much greater variation. As they are a full season crop, they should be sown from April through to early June to get the potential out of them and avoid the drier parts of the season that might delay germination. Fertiliser should be applied at time of sowing into the seedbed. Care must be taken to avoid clubroot and should be grown after at least a 5-year break in brassica production to ensure they do not develop misshapen roots. The crop should be monitored for potential pests such as flea beetle and quickly treated if necessary. For it to be fully utilized and avoid wastage it should be stripped grazed.
Benefits of Growing Swedes
Can be fed to sheep, dairy & beef cattle
High energy winter grazing, winter hardy, high energy
Highest utilisable yield out of all the forage crops
Ideal for finishing lambs
pH around 6.5
Low production costs & cost effective
Sowing Rates
100-325g per acre
Sowing Period
May
Utilisation Period
September to February
