Highlander Swede

• High yielding main crop swede
• White-fleshed bulb
• High proportion of leaf
• Complementary production to Major Plus swede
• Later maturing

Yield Results

Highlander swede is a later maturing (180 -240 days) main crop swede, which is characterised by its large white fleshed bulb and pink skin. Highlander also produces a significantly greater proportion of leaf than most Swedes.

Highlander is primarily used in cooler climates where there is a requirement for a high yielding/quality feed for the late autumn and winter period. The bulbs over-winter better than turnip bulbs. NB: Do not mix cultivars.

Highlander swede can be sown any time from spring to early summer at a rate of 0.8-1.5 kg/ha of SUPERSTRIKE®PLUS treated seed, at a depth of 1-2cm and requires medium to high soil fertility level. Pasture should be sprayed out with glyphosate at the correct label rate prior to cultivation. Best results are achieved with a fine, firm and weed free seedbed. It should be firm enough that footprints don't penetrate more than 1.0cm.
Highlander can be successfully established through no tillage systems. The use of glyphosate tank mixed with a contact insecticide at correct label rates is essential for a successful result. In some situations the addition of a broadleaf herbicide may be required. A delay between spraying and drilling will aid moisture retention and reduce pest populations.
In a trial at Fingal, Tasmania, Merino weaners grazing Highlander swede at 62 lambs/ha produced 48% higher liveweight gain than those grazing Green Globe turnips.

What the farmers say...
Alissa Howieson, agronomist Mt Gambier SA
"After seeing the successful use of Highlander swede in northern Tasmania, I am keen to trial it as another annual fodder option for irrigation and grazing systems in the Mount Gambier region.
I saw the Highlander swede at the end of its production, but was amazed at the way it was preferentially grazed to the ground over turnips and rapes at the Cressy research farm. The exceptional palatability of this variety was obvious. I am very interested in looking at the utilisation of this forage considering the grazing of the tops and the bulbs.
I believe that with our rainfall and cool summer we could look at sowing Highlander straight into dryland paddocks late, for example following a hay cut, for feed from autumn through until winter. Feed is generally very limited through this period, and with the frosts we have received this winter, would have been ideal to have this sort of feed available."

Brenton Heazlewood, mixed producer Whitemore TAS

"We run a 50% seed production and 50% prime Iamb enterprise along with a Border Leicester stud, which tends to complement each other. We also buy in breeding cattle in late summer and early Autumn and fatten over winter on swedes. The Highlander swedes are used in a
rotation with the seed production to even up the ground."
"I planted 6 ha to Highlander swede at 1 kg/ha with fertiliser in December 2005 and commenced grazing in June 2006 with 50 mixed cattle and 100 rams. The swedes were watered up during January and February as it was very dry."
"I started to strip graze but then changed to set stocking along with a run off block next to the paddock of swedes. The cattle were also fed silage as a source of roughage."
"The amount of feed you get off the swedes is tremendous. Years ago I grew York Globe turnips which didn't keep well through the winter. I've grown swedes before and it yields and keeps well over winter compared to turnips and the stock absolutely love it."