Swede
Swedes are a full season root crop which are mainly fed in situ, an excellent high energy winter feed. They grow best in areas of high rainfall, so are generally grown in more northerly and western areas of the UK. Swedes can be grown in a wide range of soil types with good drainage as they are sensitive to compaction and poor drainage; they thrive in soils with a pH of approximately 6.5.
Kale
Kale is a brassica traditionally grown for grazing by cattle in the autumn and winter. Kale is very useful as it can extend the grazing season. This crop is best strip grazed to avoid excessive wastage and ensure both leaf and stem are eaten. It is very adaptable and can grow on most sites throughout the UK. Kale can also be used as a winter hardy game cover.
Turnip
Fast-growing turnips produce higher yields of Winter or Summer feed more quickly than any other crop sown at the same time. Turnips produce palatable, easy-to-digest fodder for both sheep and cattle and can shorten the Winter concentrate feeding period by months. Turnips are multi-purpose and can be sown for grazing in Summer, Autumn and Winter.
Tankard shape enhances utilisation and reduces risk of choking associated with round bulbs.
Forage Rape
Forage Rape has the advantage of being a very fast growing crop suitable for grazing by sheep or cattle. It is an ideal catch crop for boosting midsummer forage production for livestock farmers when planted in the spring, it is also suitable for fattening lambs in the Autumn/Winter. Forage Rape extends the grazing season in the Autumn and is superb for flushing ewes.
