Swedes (Brassica napus var. napobrassica) are a high yielding, slow maturing winter crop, used as a single graze option typically between June and August. They are normally sown in late spring or summer in cool, summer moist climates, and are widely used in southern and inland areas of New Zealand.
They typically yield 10-18 t DM/ha with higher feed quality than kales; typical ME values are 12+. Swedes maintain their bulb quality better than turnips, especially in frosty conditions. They are most often strip-grazed and cultivars have a range of maturity dates. They can be grazed by a variety of stock types in a range of farming systems.
Swedes are generally not recommended for double cropping because of the risk of disease.